From 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 20, Owen’s Supermarket on East Center Street in Warsaw was teeming with people shopping for a good cause.

Mission Point Community Church and Grace College partnered with Owen’s to host the third annual Super Market Sweep: Give ‘Till You Drop. The all-day event is an opportunity for Warsaw community members to give back to area families in need during the holiday season.

A total of 381 students and 38 community members, staff and faculty shopped at Owen’s for non-perishable food items to replenish the pantries of Combined Community Services, Our Father’s House and Salvation Army, as well as baby formula and diapers given to Heartline Pregnancy Center.

The day’s donations totaled $18,800 (12,147 pounds) of non-perishable food donations, which will serve 36,000 meals to people in Kosciusko County. Over 8,800 diapers were also donated to Heartline Pregnancy Center.

The event was largely planned by Kearstin Criswell, student involvement coordinator at Grace College, and Jamie Koser, mission coordinator at Mission Point Community Church.

“Three years ago I realized Student Activities Board spends a lot of money on a Christmas party and supplies for the students,” said Criswell. “I wanted to make sure that the students knew we were celebrating the true meaning of Christmas by doing a fun activity that incorporated giving.”

“The Supermarket Sweep was a huge success,” added Emily Koontz, Grace SAB director. “Though we often label ourselves ‘poor college students,’ it was a great opportunity to give generously in light of how much the Lord has given us. It was so inspiring to see students come together and to see their excitement and eagerness to serve our community in this way.”