MARYSVILLE — Two local grocery stores hosted food drives for the Marysville Community Food Bank on Saturday, Aug. 17, that collected 800 pounds of food and $239 in cash between them, but the food drives’ organizers hope this will merely mark the start of a new season of giving for the Food Bank.

“The most popular donation choice of the day was tuna fish, which was also number one on our wish list,” said Gary Jeffrey, co-owner of Grocer4u.com, a locally owned business that supports the Marysville Community Food Bank both financially and through food drives, such as the ones at the Marysville Albertsons and IGA on Aug. 17. “Pasta and cereal were also well-represented.”

Jeffrey’s initial goal for the two food drives was to collect approximately 300 pounds of food, so he exceeded his expectations. Nonetheless, he’s not content to stop here, since his ultimate goal is for Grocer4u.com to raise $4,000 annually for the Marysville Community Food Bank through local community involvement. To that end, the two Saturday food drives were intended not only to collect necessary items for the Food Bank, but also to help spread the word on how the community can help support the Food Bank passively, through online shopping.

“Each Grocer4u.com user registering with the charity code ‘MCFB’ generates 4 percent of the Online Deal sale price back to the Food Bank,” said Jeffrey, who reported that, prior to Aug. 17, more than $300 had already been raised for the Food Bank since the launch of this program at the end of May. “If just 200 users spend $40 a month at Grocer4u.com, that’s our $4,000 met right there.”

“With the holidays fast approaching, we need to start stocking up,” said Marysville Community Food Bank Director Dell Deierling, who thanked Jeffrey and his fellow volunteers. “What a great job by everyone.”