Whole Foods Market Plants Seeds of Generosity on Black Friday with Centrepoint Fundraiser

Whole Foods Market Plants Seeds of Generosity on Black Friday with Centrepoint Fundraiser

London, 24 November, 2015/PR Newswire/- Organic and natural food and goods retailer Whole Foods Market is turning its back on the consumerism synonymous with Black Friday by asking shoppers to slow their spending and donate to youth homelessness charity Centrepoint.

As a rebuff against the growing trend of deep discounts designed to get customers in store Whole Foods Market are making a stand and re-naming the day to “Give Back Friday!” The fundraising drive will see Whole Foods Market generously donating 5% of their gross sales. The giving doesn’t stop there though, as Centrepoint is Whole Foods Market’s chosen Christmas charity and customers will be able to add donations to their bill at all store till points throughout November and December.

Every penny raised will support Centrepoint’s Health Team, which provides tailored nutritional therapy, physical activity, health promotion, health condition management and sexual health advice and information. The demand for these services has risen by 64% since 2012 so Whole Foods Market’s generosity could not have come at a better time.

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For many young people arriving at Centrepoint it will be the first time they have lived away from home. A lack of basic cooking skills is not uncommon and this can make it a challenge for them to prepare healthy meals.

This makes the Centrepoint Health Team’s work all the more important. Almost half of young people (49 per cent)1 arriving at Centrepoint do not have a healthy diet, with many eating cheap fast food and large quantities of drinks and snacks high in sugar and salt. In addition, over half (52 per cent)2 of young people report an irregular eating pattern - with many skipping meals, especially breakfast, and some eating only one large meal a day.

Benjamin Woodgate, Marketing Coordinator at Whole Foods Market comments on the partnership: “We have a deep appreciation for crucial efforts of Centrepoint in helping young people have a positive future, and a special understanding of the importance of the Health Team in the process. We are proud of this partnership which will help deliver life changing health support through tackling relationships with food and highlighting the importance of nutrition. Our customers are always incredibly generous when it comes to our higher purpose and the charity partnerships we create, and already we have seen this giving through donations at our till points. We encourage everyone to give a little to this wonderful charity, and especially to shop at a Whole Foods Market store on Friday 27th for ‘Give Back Black Friday’ where we will be swimming in the opposite direction of the normal retail market and donating 5% of our gross sales to Centrepoint.”

Dominic Lane, Centrepoint’s Senior Health Living Advisor, said: “The young people we work with at Centrepoint need more than a roof over their heads to escape homelessness and find a job and a home. Practical skills and qualifications are important, but many of the young people we work with have never had to live independently before. Centrepoint’s Health Team addresses that need, while looking at the root causes of their homelessness by providing them with the skills and confidence they need to live independently and addressing their mental health needs and physical well-being.”

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Notes to editors

About Centrepoint

  • Centrepoint is the leading charity for homeless young people aged 16-25.
  • Centrepoint supports more than 8,400 homeless young people a year.
  • It provides accommodation-based and floating support services in London and the North of England. These include emergency night shelters and accommodation-based short stay services, as well as specialist services for care leavers, ex-offenders, young single parents, foyers and supported flats.
  • Centrepoint’s work is about more than just providing a safe bed for the night; Centrepoint helps young people to turn their lives around by gaining essential life skills; tackling their physical and mental health issues and moving into education or employment.
  • Through policy work, Centrepoint aims to influence public policy, campaigning on behalf of the young people it supports and homeless young people throughout the UK.
  • Founded in 1969, Centrepoint has helped more than 100,000 homeless young people.
  • HRH The Duke of Cambridge became Centrepoint’s Patron in 2005.

[1] Centrepoint, Toxic Mix Report, 2015
[2] Centrepoint, Toxic Mix Report, 2015