Strack & Van Til CEO Jeff Strack recently presented Opportunity Enterprises (OE) with a check for $12,440.29 in support of the work the organization does throughout the region for individuals with disabilities. The donation comes as part of the Checkout Challenge, in which Strack & Van Til and Town & Country employees encouraged customers to round up their purchase totals over the course of two weeks beginning May 16.
Opportunity Enterprises’ Chief Development & Marketing Officer Kacie Ensign, left, and President & CEO Neil Samahon accept a $12,440.29 check from Strack & Van Til.
Strack said the Round Up Challenge is part of the grocery chain’s commitment to serving the community.
“Strack & Van Til is proud of our relationship with Opportunity Enterprises, and we support the important work they do enabling those with disabilities to accomplish great things,” Strack said. “The credit goes to our customers and cashiers who make this all a reality.”
Opportunity Enterprises’ president and CEO Neil Samahon thanked Strack and the company for its long partnership with OE.
From left, Strack & Van Til Chief Operating Officer Dave Wilkinson, OE President & CEO Neil Samahon and Strack & Van Til CEO Jeff Strack.
“We’re very grateful for this donation. Strack & Van Til has a long history of serving its communities, and they’ve supported OE’s mission for well over a decade,” Samahon said. “We’re thankful to Mr. Strack, all of the store employees and everyone who gave. It’s humbling to know OE has so much support in the community.”
Samahon also recognized the Calumet Avenue Strack & Van Til as the top-raising location and the Valparaiso Town & Country as the store with the largest increase in donations from 2021 to 2022. To thank employees for their hard work, OE gave the top raising cashier from each store a goody bag and $50 Amazon gift card. One cashier was also selected randomly to receive an additional $100 gift card.
The five winners include Brenda George from the Chesterton location, Diane Bruner from the Valparaiso location on Route 30, Pam Cagle from the Calumet Avenue Strack & Van Til, Mary Krueger from the Valparaiso Town & Country and Irene Handley from the Portage store. Cagle was also selected to receive the $100 gift card. Additionally, cashiers from the top raising store all received small thank you gifts.
From left, OE’s Kacie Ensign, Strack & Van Til cashiers Mary Krueger and Irene Hadley, Front End Manager Alexandra Monette, Assistant Store Manager Ed Kobisch and cashier Pam Cagle.
FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS, OPPORTUNITY ENTERPRISES HAS WORKED TO MAXIMIZE SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND ENRICH THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. OE IS IN THE BUSINESS OF AMAZING PEOPLE, SERVING MORE THAN 1,200 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN NORTHWEST INDIANA WITH NEARLY 350 STAFF AND HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS.
Opportunity Enterprises works to maximize self-sufficiency and enrich the quality of life for individuals with disabilities