Great things happen for the community when businesses and nonprofits team up, and nowhere is that more evident than at West County Center this month. To highlight its 15th anniversary, the shopping center is in celebration mode from Sept. 20 to 24, offering fun activities, retail deals, prizes and more for area shoppers. And as part of the ‘bigger picture,’ the center also is supporting the community by partnering with Food Outreach to bring awareness to local hunger issues.
September is National Hunger Action Month, so it’s an ideal time to acknowledge that many of our neighbors don’t have enough to eat, says Julie Pole, executive director of Food Outreach. The organization provides food to area residents in need, including children, the elderly and those with chronic illnesses—but it’s not a food bank, she notes.
“We are the only agency in the area that provides nutrition counseling as part of our services, and we help about 2,000 clients each year,” she says. “They talk about their needs with a registered dietitian, and we provide them with nutritious food. Many are struggling with cancer, HIV/AIDS or other issues. We wish our services weren’t needed, but they’re actually crucial.”
It’s the first year Food Outreach is teaming up with CBL & Associates Properties Inc., West County Center’s owner and management company, and Pole says expectations are high. “We hope to promote our mission and let people know how they can donate food and funds during the celebration,” she says. It will be easy to contribute on-site—the mall is hosting a food drive in the food court Sept. 22 to 24, and Food Outreach staff will be on hand to educate shoppers about the nonprofit’s mission, donations and volunteer opportunities. Adding to the fun are free activities such as live music; meet-and-greets with favorite children’s characters like Clifford the Big Red Dog and Curious George; and special discounts from West County Center retailers.
“It’s our ‘crystal’ anniversary, so the celebration features a number of tie-ins with that,” says Sean Phillips, marketing director for CBL & Associates. There will be lots of giveaways related to the theme: A trip for two to the crystal-clear waters of Cancun; Swarovski crystal earrings or tickets to Crystal by Cirque du Soleil at the Family Arena in November; a pair of Swarovski crystal earrings to the first 50 people each day who show $100 in mall receipts at customer service; free fortune teller readings with a crystal ball; free rock candy crystals at customer service; and a $350 anniversary prize package. Details can be found by searching ‘anniversary’ at shopwestcountycenter.com.
West County Center’s birthday celebration provides an ideal platform for Food Outreach to capture the attention of a wide audience, according to Phillips. “We’re looking forward to helping people celebrate, have a good time and make a difference for the community,” he says.
Pole notes, “We rely heavily on volunteers, grants and donations, so we’re grateful that a large shopping center would care enough about hunger and chronic illness to help us raise awareness. Everyone who donates can be sure that their gifts provide the necessary nutrition for our clients, who can then use their income to address other important needs. We have a lot of neighbors who depend on us, but we also have a lot of partners who care.”
Photo courtesy of AmResorts
West County Center’s 15th anniversary celebration features five days of fun and entertainment from Sept. 20-24. Pictured on the cover: Mary Sue Rosenthal, Food Outreach Director of Operations; Kathy Spencer, Client Services Manager/Volunteer Coordinator; Keith Mosier, Officer Manager; Julie Pole, Executive Director; and Natalie Myers, Registered Dietitian/Nutrition Specialist. For more information about the events, visit shopwestcountycenter.com and search for the keyword “anniversary.” To learn more about Food Outreach and its mission, visit foodoutreach.org.
Cover Photo: Tim Parker Photography