The program has supported more than 6,000 community partners and provided reusable replacements for 11.3 million single-use bags.
STATE — Hannaford Supermarkets is celebrating a landmark for its Hannaford Helps reusable bags – delivering more than $3 million in donations to community partners in New England and New York.
The Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag program welcomes shoppers to purchase special Fight Hunger and Community reusable shopping bags at store registers and front ends. With each bag sold, Hannaford donates $1 to a local hunger relief agency or non-profit organization in the store’s community.
Since the program began in 2014, more than 3.5 million reusable bags have been sold, benefitting over 6,000 nonprofit organizations. These bags replaced the need for 11.3 million single-use bags. Additionally, nearly 14.5 million meals have been provided through the purchase of the bags.
“This program offers an easy way for our customers to support local nonprofits and the environment,” said Hannaford Supermarkets Community Relations Manager Sherri Stevens. “This amazing milestone shows us how small actions over time can build to create a big impact for the non-profit organizations that keep our communities healthy and thriving.”
The Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag Program has two facets: the Fight Hunger bag, which benefits hunger relief organizations in the five states where Hannaford operates; and the Community bag, which supports local non-profits focused on a variety of causes, including health and wellness, and child and family development. Each month, Hannaford stores choose a different local non-profit organization to receive the donations.
A related effort at Hannaford is also generating substantial donations for local organizations. Through the Bloomin’ 4 Good program, Hannaford donates $1 to a non-profit each time customers buy a flower bouquet with a red circle that highlights the support. This spring, Bloomin’ 4 Good reached the threshold of $300,000 in total donations, benefitting more than 3,000 local charities.
P.A.W.S. Animal Adoption Center in Camden, Maine is one of the many non-profit organizations that has benefitted from the programs.
“All funds raised through the Hannaford initiatives go directly to support the care of the animals in the shelter,” said P.A.W.S. Animal Adoption Center Executive Director Shelly Butler. “P.A.W.S is humbled by the number of initiatives that Hannaford offers to assist non-profits in our area.”
Both the Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag Program and Bloomin’ 4 Good at Hannaford were developed in partnership with PS It Matters, a Portsmouth, New Hampshire-based organization that helps administer the initiatives.
In addition to supporting the community, the Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag Program is an extension of Hannaford’s commitment to reducing waste and protecting the environment. In the mid-1980s, Hannaford became the first grocery retailer in the nation to introduce reusable bags to its customers.
For more information about the Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag Program, visit the Hannaford Helps website.
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