PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Portland-area Whole Foods Market stores raised $61,967.19 in monetary contributions, as part of Feed 4 More, a national customer donation program. Shoppers at any of the seven Greater Portland-area Whole Foods Market stores were invited to donate either product or money to support distribution of fresh and healthy foods for families served by the Oregon Food Bank (OFB).
The OFB will direct all Feed 4 More donations to its School Pantry Program (SPP), which serves low-income families with children who attend schools that have at least 65 percent free and reduced lunch rates. The School Pantry Program helps these families gain access to healthy food and nutrition in a school-based setting.
The program currently consists of 14 school pantries in Multnomah, Washington and Tillamook counties with plans to add 41 more schools in coming years.
This is the second of a three-year partnership between Whole Foods Market and the OFB's School Pantry Program. The two have teamed up for similar programs, including the 2013 Bag Hunger campaign, which raised $50,707.63 for the OFB.
"Whole Foods Market and the Oregon Food Bank share the same values and commitment to supporting hunger relief initiatives in the community by providing greater access to nutritious food and healthy eating education," said Mary Crowe, Market Engagement Coordinator at Whole Foods Market Pacific Northwest. "We are proud to say we've been partners with the Oregon Food Bank for more than 10 years and love the continued opportunity to share this organization's great work with our shoppers. And above all, we are so grateful for our wonderful customer base. Their generosity and support for the program tremendously helps combat hunger relief in the Portland community."
"We are so pleased with Whole Foods' continued commitment to supporting Oregon Food Bank's School Pantry Program," said Laura Golino de Lovato, Director of Development, Marketing and Communications for Oregon Food Bank. "Over the next six months, Oregon Food Bank will be adding seven new pantries throughout Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, Tillamook and Malheur Counties. In fiscal year 2015-16 Oregon Food Bank will add an additional 14 pantries with the goal of bringing the total number of school pantries to 41 throughout these counties by June of 2016. Whole Foods' support will help ensure program expansion through this timeframe."
For more information on Whole Foods Market, please visit: wholefoodsmarket.com. To learn more about the Oregon Food Bank and the School Pantry Program, visit: oregonfoodbank.org.
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 78,000 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 2013, the company had sales of $12.9 billion and currently has more than 360 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
About Oregon Food Bank
With sufficient public will and support of the entire community, we believe it is possible to eliminate hunger and its root causes. Oregon Food Bank collects and distributes food through a network of four Oregon Food Bank branches and 17 independent regional food banks serving Oregon and Clark County, Washington. The Oregon Food Bank Network helps nearly 1 in 5 households fend off hunger. Oregon Food Bank also leads statewide efforts to increase resources for hungry families and to eliminate the root causes of hunger through advocacy, nutrition education, garden education, and helping communities strengthen local food systems. For more information visit oregonfoodbank.org.
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SOURCE Whole Foods Market