The Giant Company, in partnership with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, has announced the return of its Healing the Planet grant program. This year, $300,000 will be awarded to projects that address food waste prevention, reduction and recovery across its operating area in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia.
“In the past two years of our grant program and partnership with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, we have worked with dozens of grant recipients to make a difference in healing the planet by connecting families to green spaces and focusing on water conservation,” said Jessica Groves, community impact manager, The Giant Company.
“As a grocer, we are tackling the issue of food waste in our operations every day. Understanding that we all can make changes to divert food waste for our landfills, this year we are focusing on projects which specifically take steps to address this issue.”
The 2023 Healing the Planet grant program is accepting online applications through April 13 through Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s website. Projects must address food waste prevention, reduction and or recovery and can include community composting, increased access to compost for agricultural producers, educational programs regarding food waste prevention, reduction and recovery and diversion of food waste from landfills.
Community gardens are eligible for funding but must have a food waste prevention, reduction and or recovery component, such as education. Awardees will be announced in June.
This is the third year The Giant Company has partnered with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful to offer Healing the Planet grants. So far, more than $800,000 has been awarded to 87 recipients for projects which connected people and families to green spaces and improved or helped to protect local waterways and water resources.
“Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is excited to learn about the many inventive ways food waste is being prevented, reduced and recovered,” said Shannon Reiter, president.
“Not only do these types of projects save natural resources and reduce the amount of material that enters the waste stream, they can also potentially provide food security to those in need. We are honored to continue our partnership with The Giant Company to provide opportunities to make a difference in the efficiencies of food waste within our communities. We also want to thank all of you who ‘rounded up’ at the register.”
In addition, customers can also support The Giant Company’s healing the planet initiatives. Through May 31, customers can round up their purchase at any Giant, Martin’s or Giant Heirloom Market store at checkout. Funds donated through round up will benefit Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, Rodale Institute and Planet Bee Foundation.
To learn more, visit giantfoodstores.com/pages/our-purpose.
