The Giant Co., customers raise more than $400,000

The Giant Co., in partnership with its customers, has raised $403,360 through its Healing Our Planet initiative. The donation supports two initiatives — Planet Bee Foundation and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.

The money was raised during May when Giant, Martin’s and Giant Heirloom Market customers had the opportunity to round up their grocery purchases at the register to support each organization, according to a press release.

“Action inspires action and small changes such as tree plantings and pollinator awareness can make a big difference when it comes to helping our planet, so thank you to our customers who rounded up at the register to support these green initiatives,” Courtney Hopcraft, manager of charitable giving and community relations, The Giant Co., said in a statement. In the four years of the grocery chain’s Healing the Planet campaign, more than $6 million has been raised, the company said.

Planet Bee Foundation drives awareness for pollinators and the importance of bees as a pathway to STEM, conservation, and innovations in agriculture. Funding raised by Giant will support local beekeepers, research programs, and school and community programs.

“On behalf of Planet Bee Foundation, I wish to extend our deepest gratitude to The Giant Co. for their donation, which has educated and impacted over 109,000 youth. Their generosity has sponsored STEM and Agriculture Education programs in schools, provided supplies to teachers, offered grants to local beekeepers, provided education at public events, and maintained beehives in community gardens, exemplifying their commitment to local communities,” Debra Tomaszewski, founder and executive director, Planet Bee Foundation, said in a statement.

Earlier this month, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful in partnership with The Giant Co. announced it will award Healing the Planet grants later this summer to local community organizations for tree plantings across Pennsylvania.

“Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is grateful to The Giant Co. for their support of native tree planting in their operating areas in Pennsylvania. Funding will also support our Pick Up Pennsylvania program, so we can continue to meet the needs of families, friends, neighbors, civic groups, nonprofits and municipalities working towards a clean and beautiful Pennsylvania,” Shannon Reiter, president, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, said in a statement.

This article appears courtesy of a content share agreement between North Penn Now and The Reporter. To read more stories like this, visit www.thereporteronline.com.