GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The home office thought store manager Mike Finnick made a mistake when he ordered 100 cases of vegetables for Winn-Dixie.

He assured them it was no mistake because, with the help of his store associates, most were going to wind up in a bin headed to the Clay County Agricultural Fair as part of Our Fair Care on Tuesday, April 8.

Finnick's favorite community project with Winn-Dixie is the fair. Anyone bringing canned goods and non-perishable goods to support the Clothes Closet and Food Pantry of Orange Park or pet and school supplies for Clay County Animal Services or Clay County Educational Foundation will be admitted for $5 – a $10 savings from the $15 adult admission.

In addition to Our Fair Cares, his store will sponsor the Taste the Fair Day on Monday, April 7. Patrons bringing a Winn-Dixie receipt can enter the fair for just $5.

On both days, the Green Cove Springs store will have a booth at the front gate with coupons and swag for its customers.

“A year ago, Winn-Dixie put collection boxes at all of our Clay County stores and that really increased our numbers,” Finnick said. “I also challenged our managers to get our associates behind this, because it’s so important to help the Clothes Closet and Food Pantry.”

Finnick said customers donated 80 cases – 1,920 cans – of vegetables at his store a year ago. He said this year’s goal is to donate 100 cases or 2,400 cans. "They thought I made a mistake when I ordered 100 cases, but I believe our community will donate 100 this year.”

Bins were delivered to local stores 25 days before the opening ceremonies on Thursday, April 3. Some bins were already filled in the first week and scheduled to be emptied.

“The Fair was incredible last year,” said Clothes Closet and Food Pantry President Mandy Nelson. “It was such a blessing. We served 11,997 people last year, and the fair donation went a long way to helping the people in Orange Park and Fleming Island.”

Winn-Dixie stores are making donations easy by selling canned goods at the register, just a few feet from the bins. Cans are stacked at the register, reminding customers of the food drive.

“We shattered donation records last year, but our goal is to beat that,’ Finnick said. “The fair and our community are vital to us, so we get behind this.”

Last year’s collection shattered fair records. Nearly four tons were dropped off at the front gate, making it challenging for volunteers to move the items into a warehouse and distribute them to the food pantry, animal control and education foundation offices.

“Last year’s Our Fair Cares was a huge upgrade from the past,” said Tasha Hyder, the fair’s executive director. “Our goal this year is to surpass it again. It just keeps getting bigger every year. This is one of our favorite projects.”

Winn-Dixie also sponsors Taste the Fair, wherein patrons can get in for $7 if they provide a receipt from a store at the box office. Finnick’s store will have a booth at the main gate, where he and associates will greet fairgoers with coupons and swag.