31 Express Deli/Grocery, Planet Fitness Contribute to Verona Food Pantry

Caption: Pictured on October 30, 2009 in front of the 31 Express Deli/Grocery (left to right) is Steve Joanis (owner of Planet Fitness-Oneida), Steve and Barb Allen (owners of 31 Express Deli/Grocery) present a $1,000 check to Linda Finnerty and Pam Raymond of the Town of Verona Food Pantry. Also pictured is Fritz Scherz, who first visited the Pantry and publicized its needs.

(Verona, NY) Barb and Steve Allen, owners of 31 Express Deli/Grocery in Verona, NY and Steve Joanis, owner of Planet Fitness in Oneida, NY presented a check for $1,000 to the Town of Verona Food Pantry (Pantry) on October 30, 2009.

After reading about candidate for Councilman on the Verona Town Board, Fritz Scherz’s visit to the Pantry, the Allens wanted to do something to help out. Barb and Steve found out from Linda Finnerty at the Pantry that the food bank was in need of donations.

Barb and Steve set a goal of raising $500 via a “Pumpkin Patch Wall” by the end of October. People donated a minimum of $1 to get a pumpkin cut-out to be added to the wall. On October 23, the $500 goal was met! At that time, Steve Joanis, owner of Planet Fitness in Oneida made an offer to the Allens: “if you put up $250, I’ll put up $250 so you can make a donation of $1,000 to the Pantry.”

“Once I heard that our town’s Pantry was in need of funds, my husband, Steve and I just knew we had to do something,” said Barb Allen. “We’ve always believed that if you’re good to your neighbors, they will return it, and this fundraiser goes to show how people will help out. We’ve been very fortunate that the area people have supported our store. My staff and I try to give them friendly, quality service, and a helping hand where we can. We have made many new friends with the store and look forward to many more years.”

Barb’s husband, Steve, added: “We strongly believe that it’s important to give back to our community, and this was a way that we were able to do it for an organization that could really use the help. We’re proud of all our friends that donated and made this a great community success!”

Barb closed with: “Our next fundraiser will again be for the Pantry, as we’ll collect money for clothes and gifts for the area needy families.

The 31 Express Deli/Grocery started out as a small sub shop and deli on Rt. 31 in Verona, NY in April of 2008. The people who shopped there kept asking Barb Allen to go bigger and add more grocery items. The 31 Express Deli/Grocery soon grew out of that location, and when Freihofer’s decided to move, an opportunity arose for the 31 Express Deli/Grocery to grow. Barb leased the old Freihofer store in March 2009, and expanded the grocery line as well as added more specialty items.

For more information on the 31 Express Deli/Grocery, call: (315) 366-3354.

31 Express Deli/Grocery, Planet Fitness Contribute to Verona Food Pantry

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