LOS ANGELES (Nov. 7, 2012) – No family should ever go without – especially over the holidays – and with the help of shoppers, Whole Foods Market’s Southern Pacific region is helping families in need with its new Grab & Give program. From Nov. 5, 2012 to Dec. 31, 2012, shoppers can get into the spirit of giving by purchasing and donating meals and other essentials for families in need at Whole Foods Market registers throughout Arizona, Hawaii, Las Vegas and Southern California.
Shoppers can choose to make a donation of $5, $10, $25, or more that will provide a full meal for a family of four and will include healthy options from Whole Foods Market’s 365 Everyday Value® line of products. A $5 donation provides a family with breakfast and includes organic oatmeal and cereal bars, while a $10 donation serves a lunch of macaroni and cheese, tuna, creamy peanut butter, golden rounds crackers and fruit spread. Dinner is also a $10 donation and includes two packages of spaghetti, pasta sauce, a six-pack of apple sauce, a can of soup and a can of vegetables. With a generous $25 donation, shoppers can provide meals for the entire family for a full day.
Additionally, shoppers can help to provide families in need with all the basics this holiday season by making a $5 donation that will go toward the purchase of a personal care kit filled with Whole Foods Market’s 365 Everyday Value citrus grapefruit-scented body lotion, shower gel and shampoo.
As items are purchased and donated, Whole Foods Market stores will give them to partner nonprofit charities which will distribute the items to local families in need.
“In partnership with local organizations and our shoppers, Whole Foods Market is working to bring holiday cheer and brighten the holidays for families throughout Arizona, Hawaii, Las Vegas and Southern California,” said Patrick Bradley, Whole Foods Market Southern Pacific region president. “With our Grab & Give program we hope to be able to distribute meals and personal care kits to thousands of families in the local communities where Whole Foods Market works.”
Individual stores throughout the region have pre-selected a nonprofit organization to be the recipients of this year’s Grab & Give program. They include:
Arizona:
• Children’s First Academy
• Homeward Bound
• My Sister’s Place
• New Beginnings
• St. Vincent de Paul
• Tempe Community Action Agency
• Tucson Community Food Bank
Hawaii:
• Aloha Harvest
• Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Center
Las Vegas:
• Las Vegas Rescue Mission
Southern California:
• A Place Called Home
• Ascencia Glendale
• Child & Family Center – Valencia
• City of Gardena Meals for Seniors Program
• CSP Youth Shelter
• Elizabeth House
• Haven Hills
• Heart Compassion Food
• Jewish Family Services
• Kiwanis
• Laguna Rescue Mission
• LAPD Devonshire PALS
• Long Beach Rescue Mission
• Los Angeles Food Bank
• Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center
• Manna Conejo Valley
• Mar Vista Family Center
• Martha’s Kitchen
• MEND
• Mercy House
• New Directions
• OPCC
• Operation Life
• Orange County Mission
• Rainbow Services of San Pedro
• Salvation Army
• Shepherd’s Pantry
• Superfoods Drive
• Thanksgiving Basket Brigade
• Transition House
• Upward Bound House
• Venice Community Housing Corp.
• Veterans Village
Whole Foods Market’s Grab & Give program launched in 2007 in the company’s Rocky Mountain region. Since its inception, the program has raised more than $3.6 million, which has helped feed more than 435,000 families with an average of four members.
“We hope that projects like this will not only provide healthy, nutritious meals and other essentials, but also help bring families a little more joy this holiday season,” added Bradley.
For more information on Whole Foods Market, visit www.wholefoodsmarket.com.
About Whole Foods Market®
Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market (wholefoodsmarket.com, NASDAQ: WFM), is the leading natural and organic food retailer. As America’s first national certified organic grocer, Whole Foods Market was named “America’s Healthiest Grocery Store” by Health magazine. The company's motto, “Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet”™ captures its mission to ensure customer satisfaction and health, Team Member excellence and happiness, enhanced shareholder value, community support and environmental improvement. Thanks to the company’s more than 64,000 Team Members, Whole Foods Market has been ranked as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” in America by FORTUNE magazine for 15 consecutive years. In fiscal year 2011, the company had sales of more than $10 billion and currently has more than 315 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
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