Taking pies in the face for Primary Children’s Hospital; STGnews Videocast

Store Manager Tiffany Sorensen after her turn getting hit by a pie to raise money for Primary Children's Hospital at Smith's Market, St. George, Utah, May 16, 2015  | Photo by Ric Wayman, St. George News
Store Manager Tiffany Sorensen after her turn getting hit by a pie to raise money for Primary Children’s Hospital at Smith’s Food and Drug, St. George, Utah, May 16, 2015 | Photo by Ric Wayman, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — A staple of comedy was used at Smith’s Food and Drug in St. George Saturday. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., department heads and managers of the supermarket took pies in the face, and it was all for a good cause.

Outside Smith’s, located at the corner of Bluff Street and St. George Boulevard, donations were taken for Primary Children’s Hospital — with a twist. For a minimum donation, store employees, family members and anyone else could throw a whipped cream pie in the face of their favorite manager. It’s a challenge among Smith’s stores statewide to see who can raise the most money for the hospital, ranked as one of the best children’s hospitals in the nation.

The Smith’s store in Cedar City has also been hosting fundraisers for Primary Children’s.

“Smith’s donates millions to the hospital,” Barbara Buoy, human resource specialist for the St. George Smith’s store, said. “They’re kind of one of our main fundraiser opportunities, and it’s kind of a fun challenge now between the stores that every spring we try to raise as much money as we can.”

“We’re in competition with our Cedar City store, trying to beat ’em,” Buoy added. “It’s fun. It helps out those in need and gives us an opportunity to help where we can.”

Travis Groomes helps raise money for Primary Children's Medical Center at the checkout line at Smith's Market, St. George, Utah, May 16, 2015 | Photo by Ric Wayman, St. George News
Travis Groomes helps raise money for Primary Children’s Hospital at the checkout line at Smith’s Food and Drug, St. George, Utah, May 16, 2015 | Photo by Ric Wayman, St. George News

Store Director Tiffany Sorensen was one of the first to be creamed.

“We’ve gotten up to $5,000, almost $6,000, right now, and we need to hit the point of $8,000 by the … middle of June,” Sorensen said.

“Today, we’re trying to get a little bit more of a kickoff and see if we can beat Cedar City,” she added.

Employees in the store were helping, as well. Travis Groomes wore a Trojan helmet to attract attention and was gathering donations from customers at the self-checkout lines.

Smith’s will continue accepting donations for the hospital. There are donation boxes at all checkout stands in the St. George store, or donors can ask a customer service representative how to contribute.

Sorensen was smiling and enjoying the spectacle after her turn in the hot seat.

“It was so great,” she said, flashing a thumbs-up. “We did it for the kids.”

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