During the program Change for Change, from Monday, July 5, 2010 through Sunday, September 26, 2010, customers who bring their own shopping bags to the Whole Foods Market in Jacksonville can choose to donate a refund of 10 cents per re-usable bag to the Mandarin Food Bank or the Whole Planet Foundation.
Established in April of 1991 as a ministry run entirely by volunteers, the Mandarin Food Bank’s mission is to provide emergency food and clothing to those in need in the Mandarin Community. Anyone residing in the Mandarin Community, regardless of religious affiliation, is eligible to be served. The Whole Planet Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization established by Whole Foods Market, providing grants to microfinance institutions in Latin America, Africa and Asia who in turn develop and offer microenterprise loan programs, training and other financial services to the self-employed poor.
Change for Change, instituted at the Jacksonville Whole Foods Market on April 12, 2010, is a program designed to encourage customers to reuse their shopping bags. Each quarter, one local charity is chosen to be one of the beneficiaries opposite the Whole Planet Foundation, which is always included as an option. The store chose the North Florida Land Trust to be the first local charity to benefit from the program (April 12 – July 4, 2010) and helped raised close to $1000 for the non-profit organization.
The Whole Foods Market, Jacksonville store is now accepting applications for the following 3 month period scheduled to begin September 27th. To apply, 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations are asked to contact the store or pick up an application at the store’s customer service desk.
Whole Foods Market in Jacksonville is located at 10601 San Jose Blvd.
