Jacksons stores raise money for domestic-violence prevention

Published 10:03 am Friday, December 4, 2015

Since Thanksgiving, customers at the Jacksons Food Store at 11520 Avondale Rd. N.E. in Redmond have been able to help support those affected by domestic violence.

The store is just one of Jacksons’ 200-plus locations spanning six states — Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Arizona — participating in the company’s Give the Gift of Peace campaign, which will run through Dec. 25 and raises money for the prevention of domestic violence.

The Redmond location — along with the other Washington Jacksons stores — is raising money for the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WSCADV). This is the sixth year the campaign has run in Washington and the Redmond store has participated every year.

Reed Forrester with the WSCADV said last year, the store in Redmond raised the most money of any store in the state: $1,249. In addition, Jacksons CEO John Jackson matched the contribution, bringing the store’s total to $2,498.

“The store’s performance was all the more impressive since last year was the first time they made the top-10 list of fundraisers,” Forrester said.

According to a joint press release issued by the WSCADV and Jacksons, during the 2014 campaign, Washington Jacksons Food Stores customers contributed more than $14,500 for a total of more than $29,000 in donations, after Jacksons’ matches. In the state’s six years of participating in the campaign, Washington Jacksons stores have brought in more than $200,000 for the coalition.

“We are so appreciative of the generosity and commitment of John Jackson, the Jacksons Food Store family, and their loyal customers,” said Nan Stoops, executive director of the WSCADV. “The Give the Gift of Peace campaign is a model of how communities can come together and truly make a difference. In addition to the funds it raises, the campaign makes an invaluable contribution to the community by increasing awareness and sharing domestic violence information and resources.”

Since the inception of the Give the Gift of Peace campaign, the release states that Jacksons has raised more than $1,030,000 through this program to help end violence against women and children and assist individuals who have experienced domestic violence.

Katrinna Lemmon, the company’s marketing and promotions manager, said each participating state has its own domestic violence prevention coalition to which the funds are donated.

This is the 12th year of Jacksons’ Give the Gift of Peace campaign in the Northwest and Lemmon said it is their biggest fundraiser of the year. It is also the company’s only in-store fundraiser, she added.

Lemmon said customers can donate in $1, $5 and $10 increments and when they do, they can write their names on a paper dove that will be posted on the store’s walls. In addition, they will receive a sticker they can wear the rest of the day to let others know about their contribution.

At the end of the campaign, Jackson, will once again match all customer contributions dollar for dollar up to $75,000.