Contact: Ashley Hawkins, Whole Foods Market
(512) 542-0381
Ashley.Hawkins@wholefoods.com
Whole Foods Market® Donates Globally and Locally to Help with
Food Bank Shortages
Company Partners with Conscious Alliance; Contributes Nearly
$1 Million in Food to
Local Food Banks, Poorest Native American Reservations and Myanmar Relief Efforts
AUSTIN, Texas (June 11, 2008) - Whole Foods Market (Nasdaq: WFMI),
the world's leading natural and organic foods supermarket, has partnered with
Conscious Alliance, an emerging nonprofit run by dedicated 20-somethings, to distribute
more than 400 tons of non-perishable food worth nearly $1 million to local and
global partners around the world.
“At a time when food supplies are at an all time low at local food banks we thought
a food donation that touched local and global communities was the right thing
to do,” said Bruce Silverman, Whole Foods Market vice-president of private label.
“Through a partnership with these young entrepreneurs at Conscious Alliance, we
have been able to diversify this contribution to support our communities locally
through area food banks and Native American reservations as well as reach out
to those affected by the recent cyclone in Myanmar.”
Whole Foods Market is donating nearly $1 million worth of food to Conscious Alliance
which will be distributed to the poorest local and global communities. Local food
banks will receive the bulk of the donation through America's Second Harvest.
Native American reservations, which exist in six of the seven poorest counties
in the U.S., are also receiving food allocated for children and elders. And, donations
will help some of the 2.5 million survivors of last month's cyclone that hit Myanmar.
Conscious Alliance is a Boulder, Colorado-based national nonprofit that was founded
in 2002 and is focused on delivering emergency food relief to the poorest communities
in the United States. With three paid employees on staff -- all in their mid-20s
- the group's initial approach to fighting hunger has been organizing “grass-roots
food drives” at concerts and music festivals.
“Conscious Alliance began six years ago with a goal to collect and distribute
one million pounds of food donations. Our relationship with Whole Foods Market
has nearly doubled what we've collected through our Art that Feeds Project and
has allowed us to complete our million pound objective,” said Justin Baker, Conscious
Alliance executive director. “We have been able to reach beyond the music community
for donations and make an even larger impact than ever before. We're so grateful
for their participation and generosity.”
Native American reservations, which exist in six of the seven poorest counties
in the U.S., are also receiving food allocated for children and elders. And, donations
will help some of the 2.5 million survivors of last month’s cyclone that
hit Myanmar.
In South Dakota, Looks for Buffalo Foundation provides food to the Pine Ridge
Reservation, where the closest store is two hours away and many tribal members
don’t have vehicles. “So many of our Lakota people go without food
on a regular basis, and when there is food, it is usually government-issued commodities
that are starchy, fatty, over-processed, and full of sodium. When we started distributing
the Whole Foods Market food, people were so happy to enjoy such healthy food,”
said Natalie Hand, Looks for Buffalo Foundation co-director. “The Lakota
elders say that it reminds them of how life used to be on the reservation, when
everyone grew or hunted their own food and people were healthier. Words cannot
express our gratitude for the healthy food you have brought to reservation.”
Food donation distributions have just begun and will continue through the holidays
staggered, based on need. Foods such as bulk and store brand items including canned
beans, frozen potatoes, apple sauce, frozen berries, pasta sauces and much more
are among donated items.
“Thank you for the contribution of top quality food products. We now have
a team of ten people in country and have a truck load of rice in Thailand to ship
into Myanmar,” said Dr. Ron Patterson, Christian Disaster Response executive
director. “America needs more organizations like Conscious Alliance and
Whole Foods Market, willing to work with other organizations to meet the needs
of disaster victims. Together we can make a real difference in the lives of thousands
of people.”
# # #
About Conscious Alliance
Conscious Alliance is a Boulder, Colorado based national 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization
committed to the redistribution of much-needed food to the impoverished communities
of the United States. Operating through ongoing, grassroots food collection and
hunger awareness programs throughout the U.S. - mostly by organizing food drives
at concerts and sporting events -- Conscious Alliance donations directly benefit
America's local food pantries and impoverished Native American reservations. Since
their first event in 2002, Conscious Alliance has hosted hundreds of food drives
at music festivals including Bonnaroo, Power to the Peaceful, and Langerado and
for concerts by such artists as Jack Johnson, Foo Fighters, Bruce Springsteen,
Michael Franti & Spearhead, The Dead, The String Cheese Incident, STS9 and many
others. The net result: the redistribution of nearly 1 million pounds of food
- and counting!
About Whole Foods Market®
Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market (www.wholefoodsmarket.com)
is the world's leading natural and organic foods supermarket and America's first
national certified organic grocer. In fiscal year 2007, the company had sales
of $6.6 billion and currently has more than 270 stores in the United States, Canada,
and the United Kingdom. The Whole Foods Market motto, “Whole Foods, Whole People,
Whole Planet”™ captures the company's mission to find success in customer satisfaction
and wellness, employee excellence and happiness, enhanced shareholder value, community
support and environmental improvement. Whole Foods Market, Fresh & WildTM, and
Harry's Farmers Market® are trademarks owned by Whole Foods Market IP, LP. Wild
Oats® and Capers Community MarketTM are trademarks owned by Wild Marks, Inc. Whole
Foods Market employs more than 53,000 Team Members and has been ranked for 11
consecutive years as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” in America by
FORTUNE magazine.