Curves gyms in the Niles area will participate during April in the 13th Annual Curves Food Drive to collect non-perishable food and cash donations to benefit area food banks.
Current members who make a $30 donation or an equivalent donation of food are eligible to receive a Curves reusable Food Drive grocery bag. And, from April 4-17, Curves will waive the membership fee for new members who donate a bag of non-perishable food or make a minimum donation of $30.
“Our goal is to top the donation that we made last year,” said Curves founder Diane Heavin.  “This is a great opportunity for the members of our Curves community to help strengthen the Niles-area community, too. Everything that our members donate at their local clubs will benefit local families in need.”
In addition to the food and monetary donations that each gym collects, Curves International is offering gyms the opportunity to win cash prizes for their local food banks. Prizes will be awarded to clubs with the most food collected, clubs who beat their 2010 donation level by the largest amount and to two randomly selected clubs drawn from all the clubs who enter the contest. Curves clubs have donated more than 61 million pounds of food in the U.S. and Canada since 2004.
This year’s Food Drive will get off to a strong start when Curves International founders Gary and Diane Heavin are featured on ABC Television’s inspirational new show, “Secret Millionaire,” airing Sunday, April 3 at 8 p.m. The Curves founders’ episode will help Curves members understand how the Curves Food Drive is the perfect opportunity for each of them to give back to their own communities.
“The past few years have been difficult for many families,” said Heavin. “Curves annual Food Drive is one way that everyone in the Niles area can make a real difference for a community family that is struggling. We encourage everyone, not just our members or those who are thinking about joining one of our gyms, to make a cash donation or drop off a bag of non-perishable food items in April.”
For more information about Curves women’s gyms in the Niles area and the 2011 Curves Food Drive, contact one of the following Curves locations:
•  Curves of Dowagiac, 230 South Front St., 782-0303 or lindacurves@curvesmail.com
•  Curves of Edwardsburg, 68943 M-62, Suite R, at 663-3021 or 97OT2U9@curvesmail.com
•  Curves of St. Joseph, 2907 Division St., Ste. 101, at 428-8050 or 97PGS6PO@curvesmail.com
For more information about Curves, visit www.curves.com.