Fresh Thyme Market has made a donation of more than $250,000 – the equivalent of more than 2.6 million meals – to Feeding America and other local food banks throughout the Midwest.
“Since day one, Fresh Thyme has proudly invested time and money as a means to foster healthier families and reduce hunger in our local communities across the Midwest,” said Liz Zolcak, president.
“By working together with our Fresh Thyme team and customers to collect donations through our Feeding America partnership throughout the years, we’ve been able to donate more than $1 million, or 100 million meals, to those in need and ensure they have access to nutritious grocery items for themselves and their families.”
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Anticipating the needs of its customers’ evolving preferences, Fresh Thyme achieved this through the following ways:
- Round Up at the Register program allows customers to donate while they shop by rounding up their purchase totals.
- Grab and Give initiative gives consumers the option to purchase pre-bagged groceries at checkout, with these bags going to local food banks.
- Food rescue program, which alone has contributed more than 800,000 meals – equivalent to more than 132,000 pounds of donated products from its stores.
- Open house events are held in Fresh Thyme stores throughout the year to celebrate and engage with the local community through product demos and cooking classes. For example, as part of Fresh Thyme’s 10th birthday in 2024, the company invited shoppers in for a day of special festivities, product tastings and donated $5,000 to the Eastern Illinois Foodbank.
- Volunteer efforts by Fresh Thyme employees throughout the year focus on building meaningful connections within the community by spending time and lending a hand to local organizations like Northern Illinois Food Bank, St. Louis Food Bank, West Suburban Community Pantry and Northside Food Pantry of Indiana to help create, package or deliver crucial resources to those in need.
September marks Hunger Action Month, an annual month-long call to action to raise awareness and inspire everyone to join the movement to end hunger with support from the brand’s new partnership with the FMI Foundation, the creator of Family Meals Month.
As Hunger Action Month comes to a close, Fresh Thyme invites customers to continue participating in its annual donation programs and to celebrate the power of family meals.
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