By Katie Williamson | Special to the Advertiser

Every September, Clanton’s Associated Foods grocery store raises money for Children’s Hospital in their efforts to research and fight childhood cancer, and this year is no different.

The effort is statewide through the “Buy Alabama’s Best” campaign, a combined effort of the Alabama Grocer’s Association, the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, and the Alabama Food Manufacturers and Producers Inc.

Grocers around the state campaign in September to raise money and awareness for childhood cancer research. To date, the campaign has raised $523,445 for this and other charities.

This year, Associated Foods hopes to raise $3,000. As of Sept. 23, they have raised $2,270.

For a $1 donation at checkout, customers can write their names on blue circles, which are then placed throughout the front of the store.

Associated Foods front-end manager Gwen Williams has sold almost almost 500 of the circles, though she said there’s no secret.

“I’m just nice to my customers and politely ask,” said Williams, who has been at the store about 15 years.

Manager Chris Smitherman and assistant manager Vernon Jones said community response has been overwhelmingly positive, as customers are more than willing to contribute to this cause as the community has seen its share of this disease in recent years.

“Everyone wants to help the kids,” Jones said.

Smitherman said that if anyone would like to donate, they should visit soon because the campaign ends Sept. 30.

–Managing Editor Stephen Dawkins contributed to this report.