Curves fitness centers plan food drive in Merced, Atwater

The Merced and Atwater locations of Curves, a women’s fitness center, are participating in a food drive over the next two weeks.

Curves International Inc. plans the 2016 Curves Food Drive from Monday through March 26 at Curves centers around the country, including 28 W. Olive Ave. in Merced and 809 Bellevue Road in Atwater.

Curves and Jenny Craig have asked both members and nonmembers to take part in the food drive by dropping off a bag of nonperishable food of a value of at least $30, which will be donated to local community food banks, the company announced in a news release Friday. The centers also will accept monetary donations.

“We are excited to take part in the Curves Food Drive this year as it brings the community together to feed the needs of our local food banks while bringing women together in their health and wellness,” Tara Whitledge, owner of the Atwater and Merced locations, said in a news release. “This year, donations will benefit local food banks.”

Nonmembers who make a food or monetary donation will be offered a membership, according to a news release, and their enrollment fee will be waived.

In its 18th year, the Curves Food Drive has gathered and donated millions of pounds of food to benefit local community food banks, the release stated.

Curves International Inc. is one of the largest chains of fitness centers for women in the world and uses a “30-minute circuit” coupled with coaching for fitness training.

This story was originally published March 13, 2016 at 3:09 PM with the headline "Curves fitness centers plan food drive in Merced, Atwater."