This Local Farmer’s Market is on a Mission to Better the Community by Donating Food to Neighborhood House
Since the opening of Fresh Thyme three and a half years ago, the farmer’s market-styled grocery store has made it their mission to immerse themselves in the Rochester Hills community. One way they do this is by developing relationships with different charities and non-profits, including Neighborhood House.
“We think it is very important to reach out to the community and give back in whatever way we can,” Bruce VanOverloop, Senior Director of Operations East, Fresh Thyme, said. “We here at Fresh Thyme are thrilled to work with such amazing organizations like Neighborhood House.”
Fresh Thyme Giving Bag Program
Neighborhood House is a human service organization that assists its neighbors in times of hardship. They collaborate with the community and other social service providers to help those neighbors with emotional or financial assistance. Neighborhood House believes that neighbors helping neighbors is the model of a strong community.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support of everybody at Fresh Thyme,” said Katie Lamb, Director of Fund Development, Neighborhood House, “To get fresh produce for our food pantry twice a week is such a generous gift.”
Fresh Thyme contributes fresh produce and other goods to Neighborhood House’s food pantry twice a week, every week. Fresh Thyme helps support the goal of Neighborhood House to encourage families and individuals to develop healthy lifestyles. The goods are crucial in aiding this goal. Fresh Thyme also supports other charitable organizations with their Giving Bag. This is a reusable bag that can be purchased in any Fresh thyme store and $1 from the proceeds will be donated to the charitable organization of that month or a charitable organization of your choice.
To date, the Fresh Thyme Giving Bag program has been able to support 1,131 non-profits, 306 local hunger relief organizations and 2,382 shoppers who utilize the Giving Bag. There have been a total of $29,595 Giving Bag donations to date, 27,828 meals provided to hunger relief organizations and 236,760 paper/plastic bags not used per one reuse of the Giving Bag.
