Hannaford reusable shopping bag charitable campaign exceeds $2 million in donations to community organizations

For Immediate Release                                                                               

November 17, 2022

 

Hannaford reusable shopping bag charitable campaign exceeds $2 million in donations to community organizations

 

Program has supported more than 5,600 non-profit organizations; provided nearly 9.4 million meals; and replaced more than 82 million single-use plastic bags

 

Scarborough, Maine – Hannaford Supermarkets today announced that one of its signature charitable campaigns – the Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag Program – achieved the major milestone of generating more than $2 million in total donations to community organizations throughout 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. For each bag sold, Hannaford donates $1 to a local hunger relief agency or non-profit organization in the store’s community.

 

Since the program’s inception in 2014, more than 2.7 million reusable bags benefitting more than 5,600 nonprofit organizations have been sold at Hannaford, replacing the need for more than 82 million single-use plastic bags. Additionally, nearly 9.4 million meals have been provided through the purchase of the bags.

 

“The Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag Program is a great example of how small acts add up to a big impact,” said Hannaford Supermarkets Community Relations Manager Sherri Stevens. “The program’s success is directly attributable to the tremendous generosity of our customers, who share with us in our commitment to increase access to food and improve our communities. We thank our shoppers for their continued support of this outstanding initiative.”

 

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.

 

Amongst the beneficiaries of the program is My Place Teen Center in Westbrook, Maine, a year-round after-school program for teens and young adults that provides academic support, civic engagement opportunities, job training and life skills programs.

 

“We are at the forefront of some of the most crucial issues of our time. We fight to keep kids safe from the devastation of the opioid epidemic, we combat poverty and food insecurity and we create authentic communities with kids from diverse backgrounds by teaching them to be good citizens and neighbors,” said My Place Teen Center President and CEO Donna Dwyer. “We are so grateful to Hannaford for championing our mission and providing us with nearly $8,200 in donations from these charitable programs.”

 

The HannafordHelps Reusable Bag Program was developed in partnership with PS It Matters, a Portsmouth, New Hampshire-based organization that helps administer the initiative.

 

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.

 

About Hannaford Supermarkets

Hannaford Supermarkets operates 185 stores in the Northeast, most with full-service pharmacies. Stores are located in Maine, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. All are committed to offering great fresh food, convenient experiences and everyday low prices. Hannaford also is an active and committed community partner—focusing on fighting hunger, supporting youth development, and helping people live healthier lives. Hannaford is an industry leader in sustainability with a strong commitment to reducing waste and protecting the environment. Hannaford diverts or donates all food at risk of going to waste—sending no food to landfills. In 2020, Hannaford donated more than 25 million pounds of food to hunger relief organizations and prevented 65 million pounds of food waste from reaching landfills. Hannaford employs nearly 30,000 associates and is based in Scarborough, Maine. Additional information can be found at Hannaford.com.

 

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Media Contact:

Caitlin Cortelyou

External Communications Manager, Hannaford Supermarkets

207-885-3132

caitlin.cortelyou@hannaford.com