Crosby's Marketplace Reusable Bag Program Makes Donations

Crosby’s Marketplace in Hamilton presented checks on Friday from its reusable bag program to two local charities, the Hamilton, the Acord Food Pantry, and Cape Ann Animal Aid in Gloucester.

Presentation of the checks was the Hamilton store’s first donations as part of the grocer’s ‘Bagging for the Environment’ program. The family grocer at 15 Walnut Road is encouraging shoppers to use their own reusable bags to cart home groceries, saving thousands of plastic and paper bags, and in the process contributing to local non-profit needs.

Here’s how the “bagging for the environment” program works: Crosby’s Marketplace customers in Hamilton are given a nickel token each time they use their own shopping bags; these tokens are then placed by shoppers in canisters for donation to one of three local needs.

In the last six months, more than 25,000 plastic and paper bags have been saved by local customers, resulting in a check for $525 being presented to the Acord Food Pantry, and $455 to Animal Aid. Bagging for the Environment is a company-wide program, and since its inception a year ago has saved the distribution of well over 141,000 plastic and paper bags in the six Crosby’s Markets.

“We are pleased to present these checks to such worthy causes,” said Kathy Larrabee, Manager of Crosby’s Marketplace in Hamilton. “With the help of our customers, we’re helping to improve the environment and contributing to local programs. We are thankful our customers have responded so enthusiastically.”

Acord Food Pantry, a non-­‐denominational, non-­‐profit, grassroots organization staffed by more than 100 volunteers, has provided food assistance to residents of Hamilton, Wenham, and nearby communities since 1991. Acord is a partner of the Greater Boston Food Bank and the Merrimack Valley Food Bank, and a member of the North Shore Hunger Network. “We are very thankful to Crosby’s Marketplace for its generous help in providing additional resources to our food pantry, and we thank them for the continued support,” said Executive Director, Jean Pagliuca.

Cape Ann Animal Aid is a non-profit, no kill organization dedicated to facilitating appropriate placement of adoptable animals and enhancing the lives of all companion animals by promoting respect and well-being through education and outreach. “As a non-profit organization, we are thankful for the generous donations of animal lovers such as Crosby’s Marketplace and their customers which make a meaningful difference for animals in our care,” said Cape Ann Animal Aid Executive Director Sunniva Buck.

To learn more about how your non-profit organization can benefit from the bag program and other community programs, please contact Store Manager Kathy Larrabee at (978) 468-3213.