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Giving Back for Random Acts of Kindness Week
At Organic Grocer we’re so pleased to be blessed enough to be giving back often and generously! During Random Acts of Kindness Week we’re reminded why we do what we do – and we hope we can inspire you to give back kindness wherever and however you can too!
When you shop at Organic Grocer you’re doing more than supporting a 25 year old local business owned and operated by Surrey residents – you’re supporting LOCAL & INTERNATIONAL charities that make a real impact. Every year the owners of Organic Grocer, located in the Newton neighbourhood of Surrey BC, donate generously to several local charities that directly impact their community's most vulnerable residents. Without these charities the owners believe that Surrey would be a much poorer and meaner place to live. We hope that you’ll consider supporting them too during Random Acts of Kindness Week – and all throughout the year! The owners also support international charities that are inspiring significant change around the world and moving industry forward ethically. Finally, Garth & Deb also encourage their staff to find forward thinking companies that are making a difference through their products and services so that we can feature them in our store! We hope that you find this article inspiring and that you will feel even better about shopping with Organic Grocer knowing that your hard earned dollars are doing good all around the world.SOME AMAZING LOCAL COMMUNITY CHARITIES:
Surrey Women’s Centre
The Surrey Women’s Centre protects and empowers women and girls. It is a crisis centre for women and girls escaping domestic violence, sexual assault and other forms of gender-based violence. The Surrey Women’s Centre is the only women's Centre in Surrey, BC. They are often the first and sometimes the only place women and girls in need call for help. It is only because of generous daily donations that these women and girls have a safe place to turn. The Centre is open 24 hours per day. 7 days per week. 365 days per year.Surrey Food Bank
Hunger affects us all; it knows no age, it knows no race and it knows no season. At the Surrey Food Bank they have created specialised programs to ensure they are providing food assistance to everyone who needs a hand up in our community.
Hungry clients may visit the Surrey Food Bank and receive a nutritious supply of food every 14 days. The Food Bank’s goal is to provide sufficient food for 3 to 4 days, offering vegetarian and non-vegetarian options based on Canada’s Food Guide for Healthy Eating. However, the Food Bank is limited in what they can offer as they can only supply what has been donated.
SOURCES BC (at Peace Arch Hospital)
In 1978, Peace Arch Community Services (PACS) was formed to serve the Surrey and White Rock community. Only a few thousand people sought its services and referral information; but as family and social challenges intensified, so did the need for PACS volunteers and professionals to help others overcome adversity and build a better life. In 2008 the organization provided direct service to approximately 12,300 individuals. SOURCES was born in 2010 as other agencies consolidated their services with PACS; these included Gateway Autism Society and Gateway Autism Foundation (2010), Newton Advocacy Group Society (2011), South Fraser Women’s Services Society (2012) and Cornerstone Care Society (2015). SOURCES now strives to create more vibrant and resilient communities by offering support to children, youth, families, persons with disabilities, seniors, and others who are coping with isolation, addiction, poverty, disability and conflict. We also support our communities through leadership, education and volunteerism.
Covenant House
Covenant House provides love and hope to Vancouver's street youth. Covenant House helps youth aged 16 to 24 who have fled physical, emotional and/or sexual abuse; those who have been forced from their homes; and those who have aged out of foster care. Covenant House is a premier provider of shelter as well as other services for homeless youth thanks to the hard work and dedication of their staff and volunteers and generous donor’s support.We at the Organic Grocer believe that once a person’s basic needs for food, shelter, and safety are taken care of a beautiful and healthy environment will enrich their lives.
A healthy and vibrant environment doesn’t just create a better place for our animal friends to live, but also creates a healthy and supportive environment for us humans to thrive in as well. Keeping that in mind, we support several environmental and agrarian charities across the country every year:
SOME AMAZING ENVIRONMENTAL CHARITIES:
Burns Bog Conservation Society
The Burns Bog Conservation Society networks with leading scientists to give and distribute accurate and up-to-date information on peatlands. In 1995 Dr David Bellemy discovered that Burns Bog was regenerating after the peat harvesting. He told the Society “you have proved by accident in Burns Bog the theory that the bog will regenerate within 40 years!” When you give to the Burns Bog Conservation Society, you become part of a powerful movement to save one of our country's most fragile and precious ecosystems - Burns Bog. Thank you for protecting "the lungs of the Lower Mainland."Did you know that you can Adopt an Animal for your Valentine?
Young Agrarians
Young Agrarians (YA) is a network for new and young ecological and organic farmers. Since they started January 2012, the network has grown across Canada from coast to coast because of farmers who have organized events (mixers, farm tours & potlucks, apprentice meet-ups, etc.) The network is made up of a diverse array of food growers and lovers: rural and urban farmers, market gardeners, seed savers, food activists, bee keepers, community gardeners, food/farmer organizations and more. All of who are working to steward land and soil, and grow our local food systems. Young Agrarians recognises Indigenous title to all lands in Canada. They feel it is their responsibility to care for and respect the land that we all live on and depend upon for water, food and shelter. In a time of climate change, we must all do our part to nurture resilient food systems (local, ecological and equitably produced) choosing with our dollars, values and hands to consume and produce foods that are healthy for us and future generations.Canadian Organic Growers
COG’s mission is to lead local and national communities towards sustainable organic stewardship of land, food and fibre while respecting nature, upholding social justice and protecting natural resources. Not all COG members run certified organic operations, but they share a vision for a sustainable bioregionally-based organic food system. COG members believe that organic food production is the best choice for the health of consumers and producers, for the protection and enhancement of the environment, and for the sustainability of the food production system. In fact we believe that the survival of our country and even of the planet depends on it!FarmFolk CityFolk
FarmFolk CityFolk is a not for profit society that works to cultivate a local, sustainable food system. Their projects provide access to & protection of foodlands; support local growers and producers; and engage communities in the celebration of local food.
"Something happens to people who plant seeds--it is impossible to watch a plant grow and flourish without getting a sense of the miracle of all life."
-Herb Barbolet, Co-founder of FarmFolk CityFolk
Certified Organic Association of BC
COABC's approach to food production is based on care for the earth. They recognize that as human beings, we are one creature among many which are all inter-related and interdependent. The COABC is part of an organic movement that embraces a wide diversity of activities and enterprises related to the organic production of food and encompass all sizes of operations. One of the tools the COABC uses is a regulatory framework to permit exports. Their priority is the establishment and maintenance of local food systems. They accept the principles of organic farming and processing identified by the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM) and engage in research of appropriate techniques to enable us to put them all into practice.
We know that donating directly to charities is meaningful and changes lives daily – but sometimes it’s best to support initiatives that are run by companies and organisations which we trust and which we know will direct funds into the most needy hands and environments.
Because we want our dollars to make a meaningful impact we look for products that we can carry brought to us by companies and organisations doing really meaningful work! Two such companies come to mind (below), but don’t forget that any of the fair trade products we carry make a difference in the lives of people around the world! That’s why we strive to carry a fair trade option wherever possible.
Alaffia Body Care Products
Buy an Alafffia product and contribute to their Empowerment initiatives in Africa with every purchase. Empowerment Projects are Alaffia’s mission in action, funded by the sales of Alaffia products. Alaffia invests in their communities because they believe it is their moral responsibility to ensure African resources empower African communities. Their goal is to alleviate poverty and encourage gender equality. Alaffia’s Empowerment Projects include several Education-Based Projects, Maternal Health, FGM Eradication, Eyeglasses and Reforestation. All of Alaffia’s projects empower Togolese communities to provide their skills and knowledge to the rest of the world and to rise out of poverty.
As of 2017 Alfaffia’s Empowerment Initiatives have:
•• DISTRIBUTED 7,482 BIKES •• •• GIVEN 32,842 CHILDREN SCHOOL SUPPLIES •• •• BUILT 2,261 SCHOOL BENCHES •• •• CONSTRUCTED 10 SCHOOLS •• •• FUNDED 4,463 BIRTHS •• •• PLANTED 57,575 TREES •• •• DONATED 24,927 EYEGLASSES ••
Learn more here: https://alaffia.com/empowerment/Natural Calm Magnesium & Calcium Products
Every purchase of Natural Calm Products supports the Organics 4 Orphans Charity which supports organic gardening, nutritional training, natural medicine and income generation in communities across Africa.Natural Factors and the Plant a Seed and See What Grows Foundation
Every purchase of a Whole Earth & Sea Supplement sends $2 directly to the Plant a Seed and See What Grows Foundation – a local charity that creates a lot of buzz around food and the interconnectedness that unites us all. We are all interconnected with one another, with our food, with our environment and with our communities. And we are what we eat. And we are stewards of our land. And we are what we contribute to our communities. At Plant a Seed Foundation, they nurture a sense of interconnectivity with one another, with our food, our land and our communities. They are committed to helping others to:- Understand and appreciate the seed-to-table cycle
- Create opportunities for outdoor learning experiences
They further support our local communities by:
- Supporting school breakfast programs to nourish young minds
- Offering scholarships to post-secondary students in botanical and health sciences
- Assisting disadvantaged communities through our compassionate care program
- Developing seed preservation programs for original strains of plants