In Mar. 1 issue, Russell County News
By Derek Aaron
Russell County News Editor

Curves, the largest fitness franchise in the world, Russell Springs location will begin taking up bags of groceries for God’s Food Pantry, beginning on March 3. The food drives goes through March 15, said owner Gina Pruitt.

According to Pruitt, Curves was donated around 2,000 pounds of food for the food pantry last year and the company raised 15 million pounds in the United States alone.

“A bag of groceries will get you a free membership and a service fee waive,” Pruitt said. “We want anyone to make it in and join and help this food bank, I’m sure they need it.”

Curves has held an annual food drive for 11 years and the food can be dropped off at the new Curves location on Lakeway Drive in Russell Springs in the former Rippetoe Funeral Home from 8 a.m. through 1 p.m. or 3 p.m. through 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Friday’s hours are from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. while Saturday’s hours are from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

“We want ladies to help us raise some food … canned goods and dried goods are what we’re looking for,” she said.

Pruitt said this was a very worthy cause and was being done all over the United States.

She said Curves, a fast growing health franchise, would collect food the entire month of March, but that these next two weeks were crucial as food-for-membership comes into play.

Advertised as “Fun, Fast, Fitness,” Curves have more than 10,000 locations worldwide.

According to their Web site, Curves is the first fitness and weight loss facility dedicated to providing affordable, one-stop exercise and nutritional information for women.

Brittany Johnson, a Russell County Curves manager, said the women who use the facility become almost like a family. Johnson has worked at Curves for four months and said she had developed many friendships from her workplace.

Sharon Warriner, a Curves member, said she has been going to Curves for more than a year.

“It makes me feel better and gives me more energy,” she said. “When I come regular, I stay tones and lose weight.” She also said the ladies at Curves were like a support group and allowed her to socialize with others in a positive environment.

Amy Kerr, who has been using the Curves facilities just over a week, said she can already see the physical changes taking place.

“There is already a difference in my health,” she said.

According to Pruitt, Curves is the first facility designed for women to offer 30-minute fitness and commonsense weight loss, 550 calories per session, with the support of a community of women.

The workout allows women of all ages and fitness levels to combine strength training with a cardio workout through safe, efficient hydraulic resistance, making it possible to work every major muscle group while keeping the heart rate at a cardio training level, according to their Web site.

Curves is generally used by adult women over 35 years of age, but girls as young as 12 have used the program successfully.