Smart Giving for Food Bank Starts Nov. 1 at all New Leaf Stores

(Pictured above: Last holiday seasons, 5,358 pounds of nutritious Smart Chicken poultry was donated to Second Harvest Food Bank through New Leaf Community Markets' Smart Giving program. In addition, New Leaf and customers donated $9,652 through the company’s annual holiday food drive.)

For the 13th year in a row, New Leaf Community Markets offers our community a way to give and receive during the holidays. Throughout the month of November, for every 10 pounds of Smart Chicken poultry purchased at any New Leaf Community Market in Santa Cruz County, one pound will be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County.

Smart Chicken is made from 100% all-natural, free-roaming, grain-fed chickens that are raised without animal byproducts, antibiotics, or hormones. The poultry is processed using purified cold air instead of being chilled in non-potable communal water baths, which eliminates water absorption and cross contamination. The company maintains high standards for how the chickens are humanely raised, transported, and prepared for market.

Since 2006 when New Leaf launched the program, the organic and natural grocer has donated over 25 tons of poultry to the food bank -- over 50,000 pounds!

Last holiday season, New Leaf Community Markets and its partner Smart Chicken donated 5,358 pounds of the nutritious Smart Chicken poultry to the food bank. In addition, New Leaf and customers donated over $14,000 through the company’s annual holiday food drive, providing over 57,000 meals.

In Santa Cruz County, one in five face food insecurity, and one quarter of all children are hungry. “The continued partnership with New Leaf Community Markets, Smart Chicken, county residents and Second Harvest Food Bank once again works to combat hunger in our community,” said Willy Elliott-McCrea, CEO, Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County. This Smart Chicken donation provides quality, lean proteins to our county’s most vulnerable. Smart Chicken, in combination with fresh, locally sourced produce provides a complete, healthy meal for thousands of people in Santa Cruz County. Together, we are creating a thriving community. Together we are feeding hope.”For more information visit www.newleaf.com/updates