SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – Starting Monday, Nov. 1, shoppers at San Bernardino Stater Bros. grocery stores can help the Salvation Army feed the hungry.

Stater Bros. begins its annual “Harvesting Hope” food drive on Monday, and in San Bernardino, it has designated all of the proceeds to go to the local Salvation Army Corps.

Stater Bros. will have bins in front of its stores where shoppers can place any non-perishable food. It doesn’t have to even be purchased at Stater Brothers.

“Everyone does spring cleaning,” said Sarah Caine, executive director of Stater Bros. Charities. “This year they might want to do fall cleaning as well. They can clean out their food pantry of all their unwanted non-perishable food, and then stock up at Stater Brothers on the food they will need for the holidays.”

“Two things that I always have too much of are beans and rice,” Caine said. “Some families would love to have more beans and rice!”

It will collect food from Monday through Dec. 13, then turn the food over to the Salvation Army.

“This donation is huge for us,” said Nancy Tortorelli, director of resource development for the Inland Empire corps of the Salvation Army. “We will be able to help more people because of it.”

In December, the San Bernardino Corps assembles holiday food baskets for more than 700 local families. The donations it receives from Stater Bros. will be included in those baskets.

The San Bernardino Corps also needs food every day for those at its Hospitality House homeless shelter. Up to 75 family members can stay in its emergency family shelter, and another 25 or so people sleep in the cold weather shelter, which recently opened for the fall and winter 2010-11 cold season.

It also needs food for up to 200 people who receive a free dinner served six nights a week.

The Stater Bros. stores where donations will benefit the San Bernardino Corps of the Salvation Army are:

• 648 W. Fourth St., San Bernardino
• 444 E. Baseline St., San Bernardino
• 1085 W. Highland Ave., San Bernardino
• 1522 E. Highland Ave., San Bernardino
• 161 E. 40th St., San Bernardino
• 977 Kendall Drive, San Bernardino

Stater Bros. will give donations it receives in other cities’ stores to other local charities, including the Redlands and Riverside corps of the Salvation Army.

About the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps
The Salvation Army may be able to provide emergency services including food; lodging for homeless or displaced families; clothing and furniture; assistance with rent or mortgage and transportation when funds are available. The Salvation Army Team Radio Network assists rescue workers and evacuees in such disasters as fires.

The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian church and also offers evangelical programs for boys, girls and adults. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, The Salvation Army has been in existence since 1865 and in San Bernardino since 1887, supporting those in need without discrimination. Donations may always be made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org  or by calling 1-(800)-SAL-ARMY