The new Bethesda location of Chop’t Creative Salad Company opened with a nod to the season’s charitable giving, raising hundreds of dollars for the county’s largest food distribution center.

More than 700 customers turned out to the store’s Wildwood Shopping Center opening, Nov. 14, featuring free food in exchange for a $2 donation to the Manna Food Center, according to Allison Anderson, development organizer for the charity group. The five-hour promotion raised a total of $1,504, directly benefiting Montgomery County’s main food bank, she said.

“At one point, the [Chop’t general manager] told me they were making three salads a minute; over 300 in the first hour and a half,” Anderson said. “The line was out the door all afternoon and they ran out of lettuce right before 2 p.m. when the lunch hour was over. They had to restock for dinner! It was an amazing experience for us.”

Adam Shapourian stopped by from Washington DC and said the opening benefit was “spectacular.”

“Delicious food for a great cause,” he said. 

The Gaithersburg-based food center will continue its holiday charity drives this week as it collects turkey dinners for families in need. To help contribute to a Montgomery County family’s Thanksgiving dinner, donors can drop off turkeys to Manna — located at 9311 Gaither Road in Gaithersburg — through 3 p.m. today.