During the month of April, Curves gyms in the Red Deer area will participate in the 13th annual Curves Food Drive to collect non-perishable food and cash donations to benefit area food banks.

Current members who make a $30 donation or an equivalent donation of food are eligible to receive a Curves reusable Food Drive grocery bag.

From April 4-17, Curves will also waive the membership fee for new members who donate a bag of non-perishable food or make a minimum donation of $30.

“Our goal is to top the donation that we made last year,” said Diane Heavin, Curves founder. “This is a great opportunity for the members of our

Curves community to help strengthen the Red Deer area community, too.

“Everything that our members donate at their local clubs will benefit local

families in need.”

In addition to the food and monetary donations that each gym collects,

Curves International is offering gyms the opportunity to win cash prizes

for their local food banks.

Prizes will be awarded to clubs with the most food collected, clubs who beat their 2010 donation level by the largest amount and to two randomly selected clubs drawn from all the clubs who enter the contest.

Curves clubs have donated more than 27.6 million kg of food in the U.S. and Canada since 2004.

“The past few years have been difficult for many families,” said Heavin.

“Curves annual Food Drive is one way that everyone in the Red Deer area

can make a real difference for a community family that is struggling.

“We encourage everyone, not just our members or those who are thinking about joining one of our gyms, to make a cash donation or drop off a bag of

non-perishable food items in April.”

-Weber