Grocery stores to seek donations to fight bullying

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Hundreds of grocery stores in Iowa have promised to help raise money next month to fund an anti-bullying campaign promoted by Gov. Terry Branstad.

The president of the Iowa Grocery Industry Association says 260 stores will ask customers to donate $1 to help prevent bullying in schools and elsewhere.

Michelle Hurd appeared with Branstad as his weekly news conference Monday and says large chain stores including Hy-Vee, Dahls, and Fareway will begin taking donations Oct. 1 as well as smaller independent stores.

Branstad says the goal is to raise enough money to cover most of the $90,000 cost of the Governor’s Bullying Prevention Summit scheduled for Nov. 4 in Des Moines.

Branstad says any leftover funds will help set up a bullying prevention education fund for Iowa schools.