Bring Your Own Bag and Help Feed Your Community Food Bank

Food banks are feeling the effects of the economy from both sides. Recently, more families are in need of food bank services while fewer families have been able to donate. The result is shelves that run low quickly and families who might have to go without.

How it Works

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage has set up an easy food bank donation program and you may already be helping! Each time you shop at Natural Grocers, just bring your own bags and we’ll donate 5 cents to the local food bank. You don't even have to request it, if you B.Y.O. Bag, we'll donate!

Because we don't need to purchase bags (that would typically go straight into the landfill), we're saving money and passing a donation -- 5 cents per shopper -- on to our neighbors in need. By bringing your own bags, you’ll be helping to feed the children and families in your neighborhood as well as reducing the number of bags that would go into the landfills.

Helping the Earth, too

We started our Bag-Free Checkout program in 2008 and estimate that we've spared the landfills about 500,000+ bags per store per year. Creating the food bank donation program has doubled the ways we can give back to the community and the Earth.

How to Remember your Bags

It seems that the hardest part of this program is remembering to bring your bags. So, here's a handy BYO Bag Reminder Sign you can print out and hang on your dashboard! Another tried and true method that our customers have told us is to keep your bags in your trunk or your back seat. Then they're always there when you need them! P.S. The Omega-3s in Salmon are great for brain health! 

Natural Grocers Food Bank Partners