Elder-beerman Holds Annual Food Drive October 27, 2007

ELDER-BEERMAN HOLDS ANNUAL FOOD DRIVE


MILWAUKEE, Wisc. (October 25, 2007) – Elder-Beerman is collecting food for local food pantries through its annual Food Drive event from Sunday, October 28 through Wednesday, October 31. For each non-perishable food item donated at any Elder-Beerman store during these dates, customers will receive a tiered 20% off coupon. (Some exclusions apply). Last year The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc., including Elder-Beerman, collected almost 260,000 pounds of food, which provided nearly 200,000 meals for the disadvantaged in our communities.



"Hunger is an unfortunate reality for the disadvantaged in our communities. We are pleased to be able to offer our food drive event as a way for our stores and our customers to help those in need, especially during the upcoming holiday season," said Bud Bergren, President and CEO, The Bon-Ton Stores Inc. “Customers who participate in this program will be helping us fight hunger one donation at a time.”



More than 38 million people in the U.S. do not know where their next meal is coming from. This was an increase of 2 million people in 2004. More than 20 percent of households that do not know where their next meal is coming from depend on help from emergency food pantries or kitchens (USDA, 2005). Some people in these households skip meals or eat too little, sometimes going without food for a whole day.



In addition to offering customers a great shopping experience, The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. also supports their communities by promoting and raising money and awareness for non-profit organizations. Through its partnerships with organizations like the food pantries that it supports, Elder-Beerman touches customers in all of its communities as well as their friends and family members who benefit from these organizations. Through The Bon-Ton Stores Foundation, the Company is able to be a positive philanthropic corporate citizen, focusing on community health, youth and the economically disadvantaged with an ultimate goal to have a meaningful impact in its communities and business environment.



The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. operates 280 stores, which includes ten furniture galleries, in 23 states in the Northeast, Midwest and upper Great Plains under the Bon-Ton, Bergner’s, Boston Store, Carson Pirie Scott, Elder-Beerman, Herberger’s and Younkers nameplates and, under the Parisian nameplate, three stores in the Detroit, Michigan area. To date, the stores have partnered with over 200 food banks, pantries and shelter through the Food Drive program. This is just one example of the ongoing charitable partnerships that the company has developed on a local level. Look for more exciting cause-marketing promotions as Bon-Ton continues to be an active and positive participant in the communities that it serves.