Winner Marlene Kraemer chose to support Mapleton School Parent Advisory Council and Play and Learn Nursery School
Last month, St. Andrews grocery store, Harry’s Fine Foods, was able to make Marlene Kraemer’s holiday season one to remember. As the winner of the Fine Foods Community Strong Draw, she took home a $1000 grocery grab and was able to choose two local groups that are close to her heart to receive generous donations, the Mapleton School Parent Advisory Council and the Play and Learn Nursery School.
Congratulations to Marlene Kraemer for winning big in the Fine Foods Community Strong Draw
The contest was sponsored by Fine Foods, Kraft, Old Dutch, Nestle, Maple Leaf, and Saputo. Harry’s Fine Foods shoppers as well as shoppers from 33 other participating grocery stores entered by shopping at their local stores. The draw date took place in November and right before the holiday season kicked off, Kraemer was able to grab her groceries.
Mary Baranyk, one of the owners of Harry’s Fine Foods, said it was quite exciting as it was the first time that a customer of the grocery store had won since they took over as owners.
“It was very exciting to us,” she said.
Kraemer agreed, saying that it was wonderful to win right before Christmas.
With her grocery grab, Kraemer stocked up on all the holiday essentials. She filled her cupboards and was able to also give to family, sharing the fun.
“Lots of meat and coffee, the ham and the turkey and some other meats, like ground beef,” she said.
She also shared that she purchased a cookie making kit that her grandchildren enjoyed.
Baranyk explained that it wasn’t just exciting for them to find out that Kraemer had won, but also to find out which organizations Kraemer chose to support in the area.
“Our customers have the chance to enter to win a shopping spree, right? And a chance for them to give back to the community. So just being a (part of) that, it was just nice to know that we’re helping the community,” she said.
Kraemer chose to give $1500 to the Mapleton School Parent Advisory Council and $500 the Play and Learn Nursery School as part of the donation portion of the win, as she had connections to these organizations personally and through her grandkids.
“I had been an educator in the Lord Selkirk School Division, so was my husband. So, we said, ‘Well, we’d like to keep it within the schools.’ And, my granddaughter happens to be going to Mapleton, and PAC(the parent advisory council) was doing a big fundraiser for a playground. So, I knew that they needed money. They were fundraising, that’s why (we decided to do) that for Mapleton. And then, my other granddaughter is in Play and Learn Nursery School, and I used to be on the board there a long time ago, and my kids went there,” said Kraemer.
Baranyk was happy that Harry’s Fine Foods could be part of these generous donations.
“It’s exciting to be able to help community organizations in our area, right? That’s what we’re all about. We’re all about helping each other out. And this community is so great at supporting one another. It was just awesome,” said Baranyk.
Kraemer wants to thank the employees at Harry’s Fine Foods.
“They were wonderful. They were so helpful. We’ve been going there for years, and Shawn and Mary were very helpful, and we ran around the store getting stuff, and they’re always very nice there,” she said.
Kraemer also has some advice for residents in our region, “Shop local. It worked for me!”
Baranyk wants to thank everyone who chooses to shop at Harry’s Fine Foods. By shopping at Harry’s Fine Foods, customers are supporting a local, family-run, full-service grocery store that has many Canadian products on their shelves.
“I just want to thank everyone for shopping local and supporting Harry’s Fine Foods. It really means a lot to us,” said Baranyk.
Baranyk would also like to thank the vendors Fine Foods, Kraft, Old Dutch, Nestle, Maple Leaf, and Saputo, who made this draw possible.
