Sprankle’s Neighborhood Markets will host a Campout for Community fundraiser Friday to raise money for Salvation Army food pantries in Kittanning, Leechburg and Saxonburg — municipalities in which Sprankle’s operates locations.
Between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m., 10% of all sales made in any of the stores will be donated to those three food pantries.
“It’s just becoming more aware of what the Salvation Army stands for and what they do,” said Ryan Sprankle, who owns the Kittanning store. “We’ve done some pretty big drives for events before. … But this year, we thought, ‘We’re in the food business. What better way to give back to the community than to provide food for people that have a food shortage?’ ”
Meanwhile, Sprankle, his brother, Doug and father, Randy will host a 16-hour “campfire talks” (complete with fake campfire) with various community leaders in the Kiski Cafe, which is located in the Leechburg store.
Guests will includes Armstrong and Butler County commissioners, community organizers, local elected officials and many others.
The talks, starting at 6 a.m. and continuing until past 10 p.m., will be livestreamed on the Sprankle’s Neighborhood Markets Facebook page.
For those who come to watch the speakers live in the Leechburg store Friday, the first 400 guests will receive a free ham sandwich and bottle of Hint water.
“What I think is very cool about this,” Ryan Sprankle said, “from a customer standpoint, they’re able to help without giving any money. They’re basically just buying the food they’re normally going to buy.”
Staff will man Salvation Army kettles, taking donations at all three market locations, as well.
Each $1 raised will be matched
This isn’t the first Campout for Community that Sprankle’s has hosted. In January 2020, Doug and Ryan Sprankle each set up tents and fake fires in their respective stores in Leechburg and Kittanning to raise money for the Armstrong County Community Action Agency.
But today’s event stands out from past initiatives, Sprankle said.
This time, the market has partnered with Pennsylvania Skilled Games, which will match every dollar Sprankle’s Market raises today, up to $10,000.
Sprankle said the ultimate goal is to raise a total of $20,000 for the three food pantries.
This is also the first fundraiser the market has done for Salvation Army food pantries, Sprankle’s said. He’s excited to help fulfill this particular need in the three communities the market serves.
“The Salvation Army just made total sense because they have presence in all three areas and we know every dollar we give to them will directly help somebody in our areas, somebody in our towns, in our communities,” Sprankle said.
Beyond the fundraising goal, Sprankle said he hopes the wide range of guests and speakers at the event will help spread awareness for positive things happening in the community.
“The positive sometimes gets overlooked,” he said. “The hope is it creates a lot of relationships and shared causes and really brings our three communities together more than they are now.”
