A Press Release from BI-LO Supermarkets:


[ASHEVILLE, N.C.] (Feb. 23, 2010) — Beginning today, Feb. 23, and continuing through Tuesday, March 22, BI-LO will be teaming up with members of the Asheville community to provide pet food to Hearts with Hands, Inc. with the PAWSTM “Feed the Love” pet food drive. The month-long program is designed to help those already receiving assistance from the organization to care for their pets.

Last year, the “Feed the Love” pet food drive provided over 63,000 pounds of pet food for families in need throughout BI-LO’s operating market. BI-LO customers can purchase “Feed the Love” bags for $5, and BI-LO will donate them to Hearts with Hands, Inc.

In addition, for every bag purchased, BI-LO customers will receive an additional 10 cents per gallon in fuelperks!® Rewards, BI-LO’s exclusive program that saves customers money on gas just for buying groceries.

Other food banks in the Asheville area also receiving donations through the PAWS™ “Feed the Love” pet food drive include: Transylvania Christian Ministry (Brevard), Interfaith Assistance Ministry (Hendersonville), Macon County Care Network (Franklin), Haywood Christian Ministry (Waynesville) and Meals that Heal (Marion).

“BI-LO loves supporting all the members of our communities – including our shoppers and their four-legged friends,” said Darren Johnson, pet products category manager for BI-LO. “Our customers have always been very generous when it comes to supporting programs they know directly benefit those in need, and we’re privileged to be able to help such amazing organizations throughout our company footprint.”

Each “Feed the Love” bag contains dry and canned packages of PAWSTM Premium, BI-LO’s own premium brand of quality, nutritional and reasonably priced pet food. Customers can choose a bag for either cats or dogs and place it into a donation bin at BI-LO, where it will be picked up by Hearts with Hands, Inc. and distributed to needy households in the community.

“We are thrilled that BI-LO is bringing this program back for another year,” said Mike West from Hearts with Hands, Inc. “The ‘Feed the Love’ program is a great way to help us provide food for as many pets as we can. BI-LO customers embrace this opportunity to connect with the community, and we’re grateful for BI-LO’s efforts in supporting us and our pets.”

For more information on this event, visit http://www.bi-lo.com.