Carlisle, Pa.-based The Giant Co., in partnership with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, will grant $300,000 to projects aimed at improving the health and quality of waterways to help protect water resources and improve the overall health of communities.
“Last year’s grant recipients demonstrated that no matter how big or how small a project may be, you can make a difference in healing our planet,” Giant Community Impact Manager Jessica Groves said in a news release. “As we again partner with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, this year we are shifting the focus to projects centered around our waterways and water conservation.”
A Keep America Beautiful Inc. state affiliate, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s core programming focuses on litter and illegal dump prevention, cleanup, community greening and proper waste handling and sustainable practices.
The retailer’s 2022 Healing the Planet grant program is accepting online applications now through April 28, through the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful website.
Eligible projects must be located in areas where The Giant Co. operates stores within Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia or West Virginia.
Examples of qualifying projects include:
- Stream health and water quality monitoring activities;
- Marine debris removal;
- Storm water/MS4 education initiatives;
- Lake/pond ecology;
- Watershed education activities;
- Watershed landscape measures;
- Rain gardens; • Streambank restoration;
- Erosion control;
- AMD remediation;
- Rain barrels;
- Pollution abatement; and
- Source water protection.
A total of $300,000 in funding is available, with grants to be awarded at the $2,500, $5,000 or $10,000 funding levels. Awardees will be announced in June.
Last year, 42 recipients received more than $500,000 in funding through the Healing the Planet grant program for projects that focused on building environmental stewardship by connecting people and families to community green spaces, supporting environmental efforts and building community gardens.
As part of The Giant Co.’s Healing the Planet initiative, the company is committed to plastic bag recycling and plastic reduction efforts, zero-waste initiatives, a solar field and bee pollinator habitat, energy-efficient fixtures in-stores, and sustainably sourced seafood, coffee and tea. To learn more, visit giantfoodstores.com/pages/our-purpose.
Also, now through May 31, shoppers can round up their purchases at any Giant, Martin’s or Giant Heirloom Market store at checkout. Funds donated through round-up will benefit Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful; Planet Bee Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on driving awareness for pollinators in local communities; and Rodale Institute, which develops solutions for the regenerative organic movement.
