The customers of Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) stores recently contributed more than $56,000 in donations to support a drive to benefit the National Capital Area Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), according to a news release from the agency.
The three-week Labor Against Cancer campaign was organized as a partnership between ABS and the Montgomery County Government Employees Organization (MCGEO—UFCW Local 1994), and was supported by County Executive Marc Elrich. $56,765.76 was raised through in-store donations during the campaign, which ran from October 26 through November 14.
During the campaign, customers were asked at the checkout by ABS employees if they wished to donate to support LLS and the Labor Against Cancer initiative. Elrich issued Executive Order 126-20 authorizing the initiative.
In addition to the in-store donations, corporate partner Tito’s Handmade Vodka pledged $15,000 to LLS, bringing the total donation to more than $70,000, representing an increase of more than $45,000 from last year’s campaign.
“ABS stepped up at a time where this kind of support is hard to find, yet it is also so very needed,” said Jessica Allison, Mid-Atlantic campaign director for LLS. “The efforts of these employees are not only inspiring our team, our patients and those who care for them, but you are showing other retailers that you can have a big impact even in these crazy times.”
Founded in 1949, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the largest voluntary health organization dedicated to fighting blood cancer in the world. According to the nonprofit’s website, the LLS’s mission is to “cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.”
“Wine” by Jeff Kubina is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0