Mrs. Green’s Helps Community Groups

Mrs. Green's Natural Market is making a series of donations totaling almost $25,000 to community organizations that promote healthy, sustainable lifestyles. Several of the chain's locations across the United States and Canada pledged to contribute up to 5 percent of in-store proceeds from one week this past spring.

"Mrs. Green's believes that eating healthy, fresh, natural products is the best way to promote a sustainable lifestyle," said Sherry Nolan-Schultz, SVP and chief human resources officer of Irvington, N.Y.-based Natural Markets Food Group, the chain's parent company. "We wanted to give back to the communities that have welcomed us with open arms in a meaningful and positive way. We believe these donations continue our mutually beneficial partnerships … with our workers, our customer and our communities."

The donations are as follows:

• The West Windsor, N.J., store gave $10,000 to America's Grow-A-Row, a nonprofit that relies on volunteers to plant, pick, rescue and deliver fresh produce to underprivileged communities.
• The Burlington, Ontario, store donated 5 percent of in-store proceeds -- a total of more than $3,000 -- to McMaster Children's Hospital in nearby Hamilton, Ontario.
• The New Canaan, Conn., store donated nearly $4,500 to the New Canaan Nature Center, a nonprofit environmental education center and sanctuary that helps members of the community connect with nature.
• The Lincoln Park store, in Chicago, donated 5 percent of in-store proceeds -- more than $6,000 -- made during its Spring Celebration Week, which ran from March 27 through April 3 to the Lincoln Public School "Eat What You Grow" Garden Club, which teaches children the advantages of growing and eating their own vegetables.

The West Windsor, Burlington and New Canaan stores used their Grand Opening Week festivities to raise funds for their new communities. Both the West Windsor and Burlington locations celebrated their openings during the week of March 28–April 3, while the New Canaan market opened the week of April 17. 

"Mrs. Green's ... has proven that they are completely committed to providing fresh produce to not only their customers, but also those folks across New Jersey who are food-insecure, through their recent and extremely generous donation to America's Grow-a-Row,” noted Chip Paillex, president and founder of the Pittstown, N.J.-based organization. "Their contribution will ensure that thousands of pounds of free fruits and vegetables will make it onto the plates of those folks who are suffering from hunger across the state."

As well as the three recently opened West Windsor, New Canaan and Burlington locations, Mrs. Green's plans to open at store in Manhattan’s West Village neighborhood later this year. The chain began in the New York metropolitan area and now consists of 18 stores in the Mid-Atlantic region, Chicago and Canada.