Regional, National and Global Giving

    Team members loading food donation van

    In addition to our local community giving program, Whole Foods Market provides leadership and resources to regional and national initiatives that relate to our mission, core values and industry. Through this program, we support larger-scale current and emerging needs in the U.S., Canada and UK. Priorities include food security, food waste and sustainability.

    Keep reading to learn more about our community investments and partners.

    Nourishing Our Neighborhoods

    In August 2020, Whole Foods Market invested in community food security by expanding our sponsorship of food recovery organizations in 18 markets throughout the U.S. and Canada. This commitment funded the purchase of 19 new refrigerated vehicles to help address the common challenges of food transport and redistribution. Now in its fourth year, with 44 vans donated as of the end of 2023, Nourishing Our Neighborhoods represents one of our greatest commitments with a significant, long-term impact. These vehicles, plus two upcycled Whole Foods Market catering vans, support community-based food redistribution programs, including food runners, food banks, rescue missions and more. These nonprofits recover food from Whole Foods Market and other stores regularly and transport it to local nonprofits, where it is immediately shared with people in need.

    How Nourishing Our Neighborhoods Works

    Illustration of Whole Foods Location

    1. Pack it up.

    Extra produce, meat, prepared foods and more are packed up from Whole Foods Market and surrounding grocers and retailers.

    Whole Foods Market Donated Van Illustration

    2. Pick it up.

    The vans pick up the goods and deliver them directly to food redistribution and food rescue programs.

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    3. Give it back.

    The food arrives at the designated food bank, food redistribution or food rescue center, and is shared with the community.

    How Nourishing Our Neighborhoods makes a difference:

    • 20,000 pounds of food per week recovered (per vehicle) from various sources, including Whole Foods Market

    • 21,840,000 pounds of food per year diverted from landfills

    • 182,000,000 meals shared over 10 years

    Recipient organizations:

    In response to significant food security needs in every community we serve, all Whole Foods Market regions participate in the Nourishing Our Neighborhoods program. Through their demonstrated ability to sustain operation of the vans and a commitment to regular impact reporting, we continue to grow our relationship with food rescue organizations across the U.S. and Canada.

    If your organization is interested in participating in the Whole Foods Market Grocery Rescue Program, please contact our friends at Food Donation Connection opens in a new tab to learn more.

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