Feb 2, 2023

Simply Organic donates $150,000 to help fight food insecurity

Simply Organic has donated a total of $150,000 to five organizations fighting systemic food insecurity in the U.S.

The Simply Organic Giving Fund grant program has donated $725,000 since focusing on food insecurity five years ago.

“Simply Organic has a deep-rooted history in organics, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to harness the power of organics to nourish lives and preserve the earth,” said Sheryl Marchetti, Simply Organic senior marketing director. “Through our annual Simply Organic Giving Fund grant program, we live that commitment by assisting organizations dedicated to addressing food insecurity in underserved and marginalized communities. We’re honored to reinforce the impactful work stemming from these community leaders through this program.”

The 2023 recipients include:

• Dion’s Chicago Dream: Dion’s Chicago Dream brings fresh, healthy produce to low-income communities throughout the Chicago area, where more than 500,000 people struggle with hunger and food insecurity on a regular basis. The organization will receive a $25,000 grant from Simply Organic to continue expanding deliveries and increase access to nutritious fruits and vegetables.
• Emergency Food Network: Emergency Food Network’s Mother Earth Farm provides organic produce to local food pantries in Pierce County, Washington. Mother Earth Farm will receive a $40,000 grant to continue growing 100-plus varieties of fruits, vegetables and herbs.
• Matthew 25: Matthew 25’s Groundswell Cafe is a “pay-it-forward” eatery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, that provides guests with access to handmade organic meals regardless of their ability to pay. Groundswell Café will receive a $15,000 grant to continue providing free organic meals.
• Multicultural Refugee Coalition: Multicultural Refugee Coalition’s social enterprise, New Leaf Agriculture, is a Certified USDA Organic farm that provides meaningful work and fair wages to immigrants, refugees and asylees in Austin, Texas. Multicultural Refugee Coalition will receive a $25,000 grant to support New Leaf Agriculture’s Traditional Provisions program to help provide produce to newly arrived refugees.
• Project Worthmore: Project Worthmore’s Delaney Community Farm supports refugees in the Denver area through community-based food security programs. Dedicated farm shares grow organic, culturally relevant produce, which reaches more than 750 refugee families and will receive a $45,000 grant to expand operations.

“In modern-day America, working with individuals who face food insecurity is heartbreaking, and supporting them against systemic injustices to work towards equity takes a village,” said Erika Bodor, Worthmore managing director.

The Simply Organic Giving Fund was originally established in 2001 to support organic agricultural development, and to date has given more than $2.35 million to projects worldwide. In 2018, the brand turned its giving focus to the growing issue of food insecurity in the U.S. and Canada.