Whole Foods raises funds for Vancouver food bank society

A straightforward fundraising effort by Whole Foods Market stores in the Vancouver area has paid off.

Over the months of November and December, the stores raised approximately $89,000 in monetary contributions from shoppers for the "Feed 4 More" program, a donation initiative created by Whole Foods that helps fill pantries of families in need. The donations made in Vancouver have gone to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society.

"We're thrilled to be able to provide our customers a simple and easy way to give back in a big way," said Grant Daisley, Whole Foods Market's associate marketing coordinator for the Pacific Northwest, in a release.

As part of this fundraising effort, some of the money raised will go towards partnerships between the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society and local farmers and growers, allowing the food bank's clients to receive fresh produce.

"We share passion for simple, whole foods and are excited to turn this donation into thousands of pounds of local fresh produce to share with those in need," said Aart Schuurman Hess, CEO of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society.

Whole Foods has supported other Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society programs in the past, including the 2013 "Bag Hunger" campaign and the 2014 "Community Angel Food Runners" program.