Last updated on March 24th, 2022 at 10:17 am
Chandler, Arizona-based Bashas’ Charity of the Month fundraising campaigns generated $2.47 million in 2021, supporting 34 nonprofit organizations. Bashas’ annual Thanksgiving drive to benefit St. Vincent de Paul generated $582,891 in donations to feed hungry families last year.
An additional 144 organizations received more than a combined $50,000 thanks to Bashas’ Community Support Card program. In addition, nearly 1.8 million pounds of food helped feed hungry families and reduce food waste through Bashas’ Grocery Rescue program.
“Giving back to local nonprofits and supporting the work they do has been a mainstay of our company for generations,” said Edward “Trey” Basha. “Nonprofit organizations play a vital role in empowering, protecting and supporting our communities.”
Local fundraising and supporter-directed giving
Bashas’ Charity of the Month program, in which shoppers can choose a donation amount on the PIN pad at checkout, remains a leading fundraising initiative for Bashas’. In 2021, Bashas’ continued its focus on sharing the mission of each organization and creating collaborations with organizations making big local impacts.
Benefiting organizations from the grocer’s 2021 Charity of the Month campaigns included: Arizona Humane Society, March of Dimes and St. Vincent de Paul.
Bashas’ teams up with St. Vincent de Paul every November to help feed hungry families in Arizona during the Thanksgiving season. In November 2021, the grocer collected monetary donations at the register and held its annual “Turkey Tuesday” Drive on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.
This annual give-back tradition has grown to become the largest one-day turkey drive in the nation. This year will mark the fundraising campaign’s 30th anniversary.
Another popular shopper engagement program is Bashas’ Community Support Card, which participating nonprofits distribute to supporters. When supporters reload their gift cards, 6 percent of the reloaded amount is donated back to the organization.
Vendor collaborations
In the summer of 2021, Bashas’ teamed up with its FirstFruits vendor to donate 11,520 pounds of apples to a dozen different food banks and local nonprofits throughout the state.
In the fall of 2021, Bashas’ collaborated with Dole and Captain Planet Foundation to award Learning Gardens, valued at $3,000 each, to two elementary schools in Arizona – Maldonado Elementary School in Tucson and Holdeman Elementary School in Tempe.
To read the story, click here.
Tackling hunger and food waste
Combatting hunger and addressing food waste also remain important priorities. Through its grocery rescue program, Bashas’ makes in-demand perishable items like produce, bakery, deli and dairy items available for pickup by local food banks, churches and schools so they can be consumed before they expire.
In 2021, Bashas’ diverted nearly 1.8 million pounds of food from landfills through the program. In addition, in just four years’ time, Bashas’ has successfully diverted more than 5 million pounds of waste materials – including cardboard, paper, plastic and more – from Arizona landfills.
“Sustainability has been an operational focus at Bashas’ for more than five decades,” Basha said. “We’re continually exploring new ideas and technologies that allow us to reduce our footprint, while diverting food to those who can use it.”
A giving tradition
Since 1932, Bashas’ has given back more than $100 million to the local communities it serves. As the grocer continues its give-back efforts, it strives to adapt to current needs and introduce new opportunities for shoppers, employees and vendors to join its efforts in giving back.
Special pandemic-related community initiatives throughout the past year included the continuation of special shopping hours for seniors, a continued partnership with Tribal Leadership across the state and an ongoing adjustment of giving protocols to always help to address the highest-level needs in the community throughout the year.
For more information, visit bashas.com.
