Across the country, our management, franchisees and employees support hundreds of charities, enhancing the well-being of the communities where we live and work.

Here are just some of the ways we’ve made a difference over the past year.

Our passion for food extends beyond our stores and into our community. Every year we help feed the hungry by raising hundreds of thousands of dollars and donating thousands of pounds of food.

• Sobeys stores in Western Canada collected $120,000 and 76,000 pounds of food for local food banks through their holiday Time for Sharing program.
• Sobeys Ontario helps make a difference in the lives of 1,000 families during the holiday season through a donation of $20,000 in gift cards to the Ontario Association of Food Banks.
• The Sobeys Atlantic Holiday Food Drive raised $40,190 for food banks in Atlantic Canada through the sale of $5 and $10 bags of non-perishable food items.

In an effort to help improve the quality of life in our communities, we are proud to support hospitals and organizations that are helping to find a cure.

• Foodland and IGA grocery stores in Ontario surpassed their five-year fundraising goal of raising $1 million for the Canadian Cancer Society through their Communities for a Cure community fundraising events.
• During the month of October, the 21 Thrifty Foods locations British Columbia raised $38,562 for a future without breast cancer through the Cure by Chocolate initiative benefiting the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, BC/Yukon Region.
• Sobeys’ stores in Saskatchewan sold pink ribbons to raise $53,000 to support the Saskatoon City Hospital Foundation’s Centre of Care Fund in its fight against breast cancer.
• As the official grocery and Post-Ride Barbeque sponsor of the Ride to Conquer Cancer, Sobeys Inc. supplied all the products for the finish line barbeque in Niagara Falls, serving approximately 2,900 participants and volunteer crew.

Our giving extends to organizations and events that raise funds for a multitude of charities and causes.

• Sobeys Atlantic supports the annual Walk for Kids Help Phone. In addition to employees participating in the walk and its organization, Sobeys also donates product for barbeques at 11 walk sites throughout Atlantic Canada.
• Sobeys Quebec offices, distribution centres and corporate stores raised over $73,000 for Centraide (the United Way).

Just as you’ve had a part in helping us fulfill our potential, we’re helping children, youth and athletes reach theirs.

• Sobeys, Price Chopper and Foodland stores in Atlantic Canada partner with Breakfast for Learning to support child nutrition programs at schools throughout the region through corporate donations and in-store fundraising campaigns.
• More than $50,000 was collected through Sobeys Ontario’s Annual Charity Golf Tournament to support the Boys and Girls Club of Canada, a charity that helps children and youth develop the skills, knowledge and values they need to become fulfilled individuals.

From coast to coast we supply thousands of products to over 800 communities making the issue of sustainability a significant priority.

Over the years, we’ve introduced initiatives like our reusable grocery bag, in-store conservation programs and building our stores and distribution centres to LEED standards. We recognize that our progress stems from the ideas, solutions and commitment of our employees and affiliates – both existing and future.

Here are some examples of efforts being made to support greener communities.

• In an effort to reduce waste, over 228 Sobeys store and office employees in Pictou County, Nova Scotia participated in the 2009 Go Green, Get Clean campaign by collecting 1,796 lbs. of litter around their workplaces.
• IGA retailers in Quebec contribute $1 million to Fonds Ecomunicipalité IGA, a fund managed by Earth Day Quebec and used to support 150 sustainable development projects across Quebec. In lieu of giving customers a few cents per reusable bag they bring to the store, this $1 million fund was created to support projects that will positively impact the environment and also result in direct economic benefits to local communities.
• Sobeys Ontario has partnered with Earth Day Canada to create the Earth Day Canada Community Environment Fund. This fund provides grants of up to $20,000 to community-based environmental initiatives, and creates opportunities for not-for-profit organizations and local schools to develop sustainable projects to foster environmental education and action across Ontario.