AUSTIN, TX, Aug. 30, 2013 – Whole Foods Market kicks off its first-ever Kids’ Day of Service initiative tomorrow to support more than 350 schools and nonprofit organizations around the country. Each of the company’s U.S. stores will partner with a local school or nonprofit to host a volunteer event from Sept. 1 – 14, bringing together more than 19,000 people to give back to their communities.
Each volunteer team will consist of around 50 members including adults, children and Whole Foods Market Team Members. The projects will provide opportunities to do community service work with short, family-friendly activities for all ages. Activities will range from community garden clean ups and dog washes at no-kill shelters, to harvesting fresh fruits and vegetables for food banks, and making peace flags for first responders and community members affected by the Sandy Hook Elementary shootings.
“Nourishing and helping our communities is at the heart of who we are at Whole Foods Market, and we’re amazed at what our stores have done to identify areas of opportunity in their communities where we can all come together to give back,” said Heather Larrabee, regional associate marketing coordinator for Whole Foods Market.
In addition to a two-hour volunteer shift, participants will also enjoy a free salad lunch with organic mixed greens and Whole Trade Guarantee bananas, plus all the fixings, in honor of the Whole Kids Foundation, which is dedicated to increasing access to healthy food and improving childhood nutrition through salad bars in schools, garden grants and nutrition education for teachers.
“Connecting through service and a shared meal is one more way Whole Kids Foundation is excited to help educate families about healthy eating,” said Nona Evans, Whole Kids Foundation director.
Inspired by the enthusiasm of the teams, partners of Whole Foods Market have come forward in support of the events, including Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day®, who is donating 20 children’s gardening kits to 50 stores, and Slow Food USA, who is partnering with individual stores to plant new school gardens in a number of cities.
Volunteers looking for events in their community can visit eventbrite.com and search for their Whole Foods Market store under their city.
