Wholeshare, an online marketplace that grants consumers access to healthy, sustainable food at wholesale prices through collective purchasing, announced its partnership with The Vermont Foodbank.
Wholeshare will be donating 150 meals to The Vermont Foodbank, as well as community network partners, for every new group that places an order by July 31, 2015.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Wholeshare as they raise money to provide meals for Vermonters in need of food help,” said John Sayles, Vermont Foodbank CEO. “This year the Foodbank will provide enough food to feed 153,000 of our neighbors, work that we couldn’t do without the generous support of businesses like Wholeshare.”
Wholeshare operates on the idea that all people should have access to local, organic products. In fact, co-op stores, CSA farmers, and community organizations often form Wholeshare groups to help their members shop sustainably and bypass a trip to the supermarket. A collective purchasing model enables customers to save more money and purchase foods that they might otherwise have trouble finding at their local grocery store. Consumers are aware of where their food is coming from and whether the food is organic, fair trade, or certified kosher.
“I work 100% at my job and 120% as a mom and manager of my household,” said Kim Brearly, the Director of Business Development at Designbook, “I was actively seeking healthy, affordable and time-saving solutions to eliminate at least one of the four grocery stores I now visit to stock up my household. I started a Wholeshare group in our office and not only have I found affordable, organic food and household objects that are delivered to my work, but I also found some great organic lollipops for my daughter’s 5th birthday party!”
“Wholeshare’s commitment to making local and organic food accessible is what attracted us to them,” said Kelly McElheny, Founding Director of the Southshire Community Market. “We look forward to working with Wholeshare to fulfill the purchasing needs of our start-up food co-op. By donating meals to the Foodbank, Wholeshare also helps the Southshire Community Market fulfill our mission, goals and objectives.”
About Wholeshare
Wholeshare‘s mission is to help communities increase their geographic and economic access to fresh, local and sustainable foods and other natural products. Wholeshare makes it easy to shop as a group with friends and colleagues.
Shopping together means customers receive access to fresh local produce, meats, dairy, and grains from Vermont-based Black River Produce, as well as their favorite brands of sustainable household products. Wholeshare offers over 13,000 sustainably produced items in Vermont.
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Vermont Foodbank is the state’s largest hunger-relief organization, providing nutritious food through a network of more than 300 community partners – food shelves, meal sites, schools, hospitals, and housing sites. Food insecurity has increased dramatically as a result of the pandemic, economic disruptions, and recent flooding. The Vermont Foodbank and its network have been on the front lines, working to ensure that everyone has the food they need to maintain their health. Last year, the Vermont Foodbank provided over 12 million pounds of food to people throughout Vermont. The Vermont Foodbank, a member of Feeding America, is nationally recognized as one of the most effective and efficient nonprofits and food banks in the nation.