Schnucks Selling Hand-Painted Pumpkins
ST LOUIS -- There will be some new faces in Schnucks stores based here this Halloween season. Starting this week, several Schnucks produce departments across metro St. Louis will sell pumpkins that have been hand-painted by employees at Project Incorporated, a non-profit organization that trains individuals with various mental and physical challenges.
According to Schnucks' produce buyer Tom Brendel, all painted pumpkins will be available at Schnucks through Halloween and sell for $5.99 with a portion of the proceeds going back to the Project Incorporated building fund. "Faces will show a variety of emotion ranging from comedy to eerie that will add some fun to your Halloween celebration," Brendel said.
Deborah Hostetter, c.e.o. of Project Incorporated, said this is the first time the organization has attempted a project of this nature. "We approached the Schnucks produce team about this idea and they immediately got the ball, or in this case the pumpkin, rolling," Hostetter said.
Founded in 1958, Project, Inc. has provided training and dignified employment for individuals with mental disabilities. The company, noted for its high quality expert handwork and fast turn-around, assembles and packages product for a variety of industries such as printing, pharmaceutical, and light industrial.
Schnucks operates 103 stores (including five Logli stores) and 99 pharmacies in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Mississippi and Iowa. The family-owned company ranks 94th in the Forbes magazine listing of the nation's "Largest Private Companies."
According to Schnucks' produce buyer Tom Brendel, all painted pumpkins will be available at Schnucks through Halloween and sell for $5.99 with a portion of the proceeds going back to the Project Incorporated building fund. "Faces will show a variety of emotion ranging from comedy to eerie that will add some fun to your Halloween celebration," Brendel said.
Deborah Hostetter, c.e.o. of Project Incorporated, said this is the first time the organization has attempted a project of this nature. "We approached the Schnucks produce team about this idea and they immediately got the ball, or in this case the pumpkin, rolling," Hostetter said.
Founded in 1958, Project, Inc. has provided training and dignified employment for individuals with mental disabilities. The company, noted for its high quality expert handwork and fast turn-around, assembles and packages product for a variety of industries such as printing, pharmaceutical, and light industrial.
Schnucks operates 103 stores (including five Logli stores) and 99 pharmacies in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Mississippi and Iowa. The family-owned company ranks 94th in the Forbes magazine listing of the nation's "Largest Private Companies."