PARTNERSHIPS IN FOCUS
A collection of stories highlighting the impact of the Giant Food Community Bag Program for nonprofits in local communities.
WELCOME!
Since inception in July 2019, the Giant Food Community Bag Program has proven that actions as simple as buying a reusable bag can make a meaningful difference. Through shoppers’ small choices adding up, this program has donated over $795,000 to 1,945 organizations.
To highlight benefiting organizations and the work they do, PS It Matters has been interviewing organizations and publishing Impact Stories since the program began. Through this initiative, we have built an extensive collection of articles illustrating each organization's mission, services, and achievements.
Now, we want to introduce our new storytelling initiative. Partnerships in Focus Stories are designed to showcase the meaningful impact of these programs for benefiting organizations and local communities. Each story accentuates how partner organizations have increased community awareness, funded their services, and furthered their missions through the support of the Giant Food Community Bag Program.
This book contains the stories of four partnerships between local organizations and Giant Food. For more stories, visit the Giant Food Community Bag Program website: giantfood.2givelocal.com/stories
June2025
WALTERREEDSOCIETY
5years
9selections
$1,652indonations
Since July 2019, Walter Reed Society has been selected to benefit from the Giant Food Community Bag Program nine times at three different Giant Food locations. In total, the organization has received $1,652 in donations to continue providing financial assistance to military service members and their families, supporting staff at the Walter Reed National Medical Center, and furthering the work of other local nonprofits
TellusaboutWalterReedSociety.
Walter Reed Society is a volunteer organization established in 1996 to support the patients, staff, and legacy of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
First, I want to say a few words about Walter Reed, an army physician back in the 1800s Through his research in Cuba, he discovered the connection between mosquitoes and yellow fever Before that time, people were dying of yellow fever all over the world and didn’t know the cause. Once they knew, they began controlling mosquitoes, and yellow fever went away. Walter Reed’s research was unbelievably impactful for the whole country Walter Reed was also a teacher at the Army Medical School and the curator of the Army Medical Museum He even started his own library, the Surgeon General’s Medical Library.
Since he was critical to army medicine, his supporters built a hospital in his name in 1909. Today, the Walter Reed National Medical Center is located in Bethesda, Maryland As a hospital, Walter Reed is the flagship for military medicine Our troops who need specialized care are often sent to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center from all over the world. It also serves our country’s presidents.
At Walter Reed Society, we provide funding to assist military service members, both current and past, and their families who previously have been treated at Walter Reed or other affiliated hospitals. When other financial sources are unavailable, we also give grants to people for their medical health care Often, these are things that their insurance company or the government can’t provide for them In the last 20 years, we’ve given over $3.5 million in grants. In 2024 alone, we gave our target population $140,000 worth of grants.
In the last 20 years, we’ve given over $3.5 million in grants. In 2024 alone, we gave our target population $140,000 worth of grants.
As an example of our financial assistance, we gave a grant to the family of an active-duty soldier deployed in Korea. His wife could not go with him and was living in Maryland with their child, who has a rare pediatric condition that requires extensive home medical assistance care We also gave a grant to the dependent of a retired service member whose wife needed a kidney transplant at Walter Reed The family traveled from out of state and spent a lot of time at Walter Reed. While they could cover their travel and housing costs, they still had bills back home that they couldn’t pay. We paid those bills to ensure the wife got the treatment she needed.
As another example, we purchased a specially designed wheelchair for a 7-year-old autistic child whose insurance would not cover it. Similarly, we purchased a specially modified wheelchair for the dependent of an active-duty service member with spina bifida. We also supported a 20-year-old active-duty person who had an inoperable cancer and needed a special wheelchair that wouldn’t require arm strength to operate We purchased a modified wheelchair to give him more independence.
These grants go to individual patients, but that’s not where our services stop. We also provide a lot of support to the hospital staff. In 2024, we gave $82,000 to the staff at Walter Reed and affiliated hospitals in the area Over the past 20 years, we have provided over $730,000 to support staff Through these funds, staff received memory skill training at the Internal Medicine Department at Walter Reed. The money also sponsored symposiums on leadership and ethics for chief residents and staff members. Our financial grants even supported a graduation ceremony for medical residents and an appreciation week for nurses
The third and last category of grants are for nonprofit organizations. While they are not directly related to the hospital, these organizations provide services to our general target audience. In 2024, we supported other nonprofit organizations that serve military service members and their families by providing more than $173,000 in grants
For example, we started partnering with Leashes of Valor, an organization that trains dogs to assist veterans with unique issues. Our grants supported the extensive training of two dogs, which we named Wal and Emily in memory of Walter Reed and his wife Moving forward, we will continue to support two dogs each year
We are partnering with the Disabled Americans (DAV) to provide quarterly dinners for disabled veterans at the American Legion Post 41 in Silver Spring and collaborate with Fisher House, where patients at Walter Reed can stay for free Our organization provides annual support to Wreaths Across America. The office at Walter Reed also works with the Red Cross to provide handheld calming devices to service members who have PTSD, anxiety, or pain disorders. We also support various programs at Blue Star Families, the biggest organization in the United States that supports active-duty military service members and their families
HowhastheWalterReedSocietyusedthedonationsfromtheGiantFoodCommunityBag Programtofurtheritsmission?
We put all of these donations into our general pot to use in ways that will best serve our target audience and the larger community Our donations help us provide grants to military service members, both current and past, and their families, support staff at Walter Reed hospitals, and assist other nonprofits and community partners. Everything goes into a general fund, and we spend it where it is most needed.
Our donations help us provide grants to military service members, both current and past, and their families, support staff at Walter Reed hospitals, and assist other nonprofits and community partners.
I want to thank the Giant Food Community Bag Program for being a partner and providing us with such nice services and funds for several years now It’s been very useful, and we hope to continue to have that support in the future
The more people who know about this program, the better. It is good for both Giant Food and Walter Reed Society. In the Maryland area, there are a lot of Giant Food supermarkets, and there are also a lot of veterans 7% of the population in Maryland are veterans, many of which are Giant customers We appreciate any support from Giant to help us serve that population.
Tellusastoryaboutaprogram,service,orinitiativethattheGiantFoodCommunityBag GoodProgramhassupported.
We purchased a cubby bed, a safety bed specially designed for hyperactive kids who risk hurting themselves by trying to get out We have given out several of these types of beds, but one in particular was given to an active-duty service member’s 8-year-old son, who has autism and a developmental delay. His parents wrote us a letter about the unbelievable impact that one gift had on their lives.
The letter reads:
Dear Walter Reed Society,
Thank you for the generous gift of the cubby bed for our child. He has been struggling with achieving safe and comfortable sleep for years due to his medical issues. When his bed arrived, he was healing from a back injury and was having a lot of difficulty with daytime activities and sleep alike. Numerous aspects of his life changed for the better.
Once you provided the cubby bed, we were able to move our son into the bedroom next to ours, which he had previously been unable to use because he would try to climb onto the floor vents We no longer have to child lock his door Since he is safely contained in his cubby bed, we are able to place an air purifier inside his room to improve air quality and support his breathing overnight Since he can no longer elope from his bed, he is now peaceful and comfortable at bedtime.
With better sleep, his back healed more quickly. His seizures are also better controlled as a result of improved sleep and injury prevention. His delightfully loving personality reemerged as he was able to rest in a calm, safe bed consistently.
Our son is also able to have toys, books, and clothing in his room, as well as artwork on his walls. Those little details give him a sense of normalcy and comfort that was not possible before he received his cubby bed. Our son has begun to thrive this school year and even received a Star Student award from his principal. He has shown improved participation in therapies, which have helped him progress his skills at home, in the classroom, and in the community Overall, our son has better health and a more successful recovery from his inevitable setbacks
Thank you for providing our son with a cubby bed this past year The quality is excellent, and it will support his best possible health and happiness for many years to come You have tremendously blessed our son, our family, and all who know him.
Finally, our son adds, “I love my bed. So cozy! Thank you so much.”
The note really stood out because it was such an articulate way of saying how impactful a single thing can be. Those beds are very expensive but can change the lives of a whole family. This is one of thousands of stories about the lasting impact of the work we do.
This is one of thousands of stories about the lasting impact of the work we do.
AMERICAN CHILDHOOD CANCER ORGANIZATION
5years
9selections
$1,036indonations
Since August 2019, the American Childhood Cancer Organization has been selected to benefit from the Giant Food Community Bag Program nine times at three different Giant Food locations. In total, the organization has received $1,036 in donations to continue improving the lives of young cancer patients and their families by providing educational resources, supporting research, and raising cause awareness
TellusabouttheAmericanChildhoodCancerOrganization.
The American Childhood Cancer Organization was founded in 1970 by a group of dedicated parents whose children had cancer Interestingly enough, the parents didn’t realize that all their kids were fighting cancer because it was incredibly taboo at the time. The parents all met in the basement of Children’s National in Washington, D.C., to disseminate information from library books. From there, Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation was born In 2010, the organization changed its name to the American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO) It was successfully rebuilt after restructuring in the mid 1990’s.
Today, we are the oldest and largest grassroots organization dedicated to childhood cancer. Our mission is to make childhood cancer a national priority by raising awareness, supporting research, and providing educational resources to kids with cancer and their families It’s a wonderful cause to work for because we’re constantly trying to push for additional funding for childhood cancer research at the local, national, and federal levels.
Our mission is to make childhood cancer a national priority by raising awareness, supporting research, and providing educational resources to kids with cancer and their families.
Whatservicesdoyouprovidetothecommunity?
Our resources program provides free specialized materials to families directly, while our advocacy program secures critical research funding in pursuit of less toxic treatments for cancer’s smallest patients
ACCO is known for its free resources. Parents can register their children, or staff can register their patients for our resource program. We are the largest publisher of books specific to childhood cancer. Not only do we give young patients books, but we also give all kids registered for our resource program, Cozy the Port-a-Cat Cozy is a stuffed cat that was designed to teach kids about cancer. This companion and teaching tool is meant to be with the child before, during, and after treatment.
Cozy’s patches represent port access, bone marrow aspirate, spinal tap, gastronomy tube, and a hand IV Along with the stuffed animal, we give children medical play kits with 26 pieces, such as a stethoscope and catheter. Using Cozy and the play kit, kids are able to perform any procedure that they will have on Cozy first. This way, young patients know what to expect and can visually see how their doctors will help them. We also distribute emotional support kits, which help kids express their emotions
Advocacy has been at the heart of the American Childhood Cancer Organization’s mission since the organization began in 1970. We work at the local, state, and federal levels to advocate for childhood cancer research With ACCO’s “What About Kids?” advocacy initiative, our goal is to secure 25 states appropriating funds for childhood cancer by 2030 To date, we have secured nearly $120,000 in research funding.
This way, young patients know what to expect and can visually see how their doctors will help them.
HowhastheAmericanChildhoodCancerOrganizationusedthedonationsfromtheGiant FoodCommunityBagProgramtofurtheritsmission?
Donations that have been raised through this program go directly to the kids we serve These funds may support printing and distributing books, acquiring new resources, and shipping our Cozy Port-aCats to new children.
Tellusastoryabouttheimpactofaprogram,service,orinitiativethattheGiantFood CommunityBagProgramhassupportedthroughthesedonations.
One young boy named Jackson was diagnosed with leukemia and was extremely anxious about hospital visits and procedures He received the medical play kit and the Cozy Port-a-Cat from us and began using the stethoscope routinely during playtime Becoming familiar with the instruments really helped to calm him and reduce his stress.
We worked with another little girl who had severe, sustained burns in her mouth from cancer treatments Because of the pain she was in, she was really afraid to have her temperature taken When she got the medical play kit, it helped her get over that fear and made it easier for the staff to help her.
Haveyounoticedanychangesincommunityawarenessorsupportsincebecoming involvedintheGiantFoodCommunityBagProgram?
We have noticed an increase in community engagement and support! It introduced new people to our organization. We have even had quite a few new volunteers who found out about us through the program that we would have never been able to reach before
This program has been a really great experience because it has helped raise a greater awareness of all of the challenges that childhood cancer patients and families face. For us, seeing the community show support through this program has been incredibly meaningful It is a great way to make a difference together
This program has been a really great experience because it has helped raise a greater awareness of all of the challenges that childhood cancer patients and families face.
Asasuccessfulnonprofitpartner,whatisonepieceofadviceyouwouldgivetoother nonprofitsparticipatingintheGiantFoodCommunityBagProgram?
We share our involvement with the program on our website, social media, and through our email list. We use these channels to highlight the impact Giant Food is making for us. The Community Bag Program has really helped to increase our local support network and raised awareness within the DMV area
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER WASHINGTON
4years
8selections
$4,904indonations
Since August 2020, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington have been selected to benefit from the Giant Food Community Bag Program eight times at four different Giant Food locations. In total, the organization has received $4,904 in donations to continue ensuring young people have the skills and resources they need to achieve academic success, build good character, and lead healthy lifestyles
TellusabouttheBoys&GirlsClubsofGreaterWashington.
The sole focus of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington is to ensure young people have a safe place to go where they feel welcome and supported. We want to be a place where kids and teens can develop their dreams and find ways to achieve them
The experiences, learnings, and youth development programs we provide ensure every young person matriculates to high school, graduates, and has a plan for the future. Maybe they plan to attend college, attend trade school, join the military, or jump into work. No matter the plan, we want to make sure that each young adult has the skills and confidence to go out into the world and advocate for themselves.
We want to be a place where kids and teens can develop their dreams and find ways to achieve them.
Whatservicesdoyouprovidetothecommunity?
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington has been in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia communities since 1886 We are a long-standing organization and are proud to be coming up on our 140th year
We were actually created long before the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. The national organization was created when organizations around the country came together and created an overarching look and feel This way, there is continuity between the Boys & Girls Clubs, whether you are in Greater Washington, Dallas, Chicago, or somewhere else. We are similar organizations, yet not the same.
Many of our programs are similar across different Boys & Girls Clubs. For example, we always have Power Hour, an hour of homework and mentoring after school We also provide a healthy, nutritious meal for every kid when they come in the afternoon For some students, this meal may be their last of the day.
We have sports, photography, drones, STEM activities, and many other programs. One of the unique things about our organizations is that we are not narrow in scope We know that kids are more likely to return if they find things they like to do. By having such a range of activities, we ensure the kids constantly discover new things they like to do. By ensuring each kid can pursue their interests and enjoy their time here, we maximize the number of young people we serve.
By ensuring each kid can pursue their interests and enjoy their time here, we maximize the number of young people we serve.
HowhavetheBoys&GirlsClubsofGreaterWashingtonusedthedonationsfromtheGiant FoodCommunityBagProgramtofurtheritsmission?
Giant is one of our long-standing, most valued, and most trusted partners We have worked with Giant Food for many years. While the Community Bag Program is one way our partnership shines, we work together in many other ways. This support helps us fund a number of programs.
Giant is one of our long-standing, most valued, and most trusted partners.
One of the ways these funds support us right now is through our Center of Transformation program (CoT), which focuses on STEM learning, sustainability, and advocacy This year, our CoT curriculum focuses on food sustainability. We talk about picking the right foods and minimizing your carbon footprint. Our young people are very interested in it, and this program allows us to share something as simple as how your lunch or dinner affects the food cycle
Giant has been an excellent partner. It is fitting that through this program, Giant Food supports our work on food sustainability.
Tellusastoryaboutaprogram,service,orinitiativethattheGiantFoodCommunityBag Programhassupported.
Each June, we have our CoT summit. Local Boys & Girls Club kids, as well as Boys & Girls Clubs from across the nation, join us for a week-long deep dive into sustainability and STEM topics. Last year, we had kids from Alabama, Puerto Rico, and even Canada! Many of these kids have never been on an airplane or stayed in a hotel
We see the kids as they come off the planes and then see them when they leave. They’re not the same kids. They’ve had experiences they would never have had before. Even small moments make a large impact. For example, many of the local kids we work with may never have gone to the monuments or corporate headquarters without these programs
One of our best success stories is about how one of our young people created a resume through our Career Launch program. This year, he used that same resume to find an internship. Something as simple as having a first resume has helped a young person find their first real job
You don’t always know exactly when the things you pour into kids will come back out, but when it does, you see how very meaningful these programs are. We heard this success story last week, and it made my heart happy to know that our resume workshop has helped someone find a paying job. We strive to minimize the generational wealth gap, and the first step is gainful employment
Haveyounoticedanychangesincommunityawarenessorsupportsincebecoming involvedintheGiantFoodCommunityBagProgram?
Anytime we get to partner with an organization like Giant, it brings new people to us and increases brand awareness With the number of stores, employees, and shoppers, Giant’s footprint is extremely large We appreciate all the opportunities we have been given to bring new supporters and volunteers to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington. Maybe somebody’s child now benefits from our services because their parent saw the bag. We know the influence of this program is broad and wonderful, and we are very appreciative.
WhatadvicewouldyougiveothernonprofitsparticipatingintheGiantFoodCommunity BagProgram?
One thing we do that works well is share with our board that we are partnering with Giant. We want to make them aware so that they can go into Giant and not only buy Community Bags but also thank the store employees. Giant Food could have picked many other organizations, so we are very grateful they chose ours This choice shows how our organization and Giant Food have been closely joined in our mutual mission to support young people in our community
This choice shows how our organization and Giant Food have been closely joined in our mutual mission to support young people in our community.
I would also tell nonprofits to continue strengthening their partnerships and share the great results with their supporters. When more people support Giant, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington is supported; it makes a wonderful ecosystem.
U.S. DREAM ACADEMY
5years
174selections
$26,888indonations
Since January 2020, the U.S. Dream Academy has been selected to benefit from the Giant Food Community Bag Program 174 times at 163 different Giant Food locations. In total, the organization has received $26,888 in donations to continue empowering kids to dream big and helping them build the skills they need to achieve their goals
TellusabouttheU.S.DreamAcademy.
We believe a child with a dream is a child with a future. People often think that dreaming is something that comes naturally, but there’s a skill to it. When young people have experienced trauma, they often face anxiety, depression, and fear, which can make it difficult to imagine a positive future We recognize that and strive to create a safe space where they can begin to envision what’s possible That vision is what propels them forward when life gets tough.
The U S Dream Academy is a positive youth development organization focused on supporting children who have had parents or family members incarcerated We also serve young people living in communities impacted by multiple risk factors such as poverty, overexposure to violence, and limited resources that hinder academic achievement.
We believe a child with a dream is a child with a future.
Our work centers around three pillars: skill building, character building, and dream building. We help young people strengthen literacy and math skills, learn how to make positive contributions to their communities, and discover their passions.
I often say, “When young people catch a glimpse of themselves in the future achieving their passions and dreams, it lights a fire within them.”
We use that inspiration to help them craft a plan for the future and build the skills necessary to pursue it
Our national headquarters is in Silver Spring, Maryland, and we operate in the DMV area as well as cities including Philadelphia, Orlando, Houston, Salt Lake City, and San Bernardino, California. The organization began in Washington, D C, when our founder, Wintley Phipps, had a vision to support children and families affected by incarceration That was 27 years ago As an attorney, I volunteered to help with the legal work to get the organization up and running. I had no idea it would change the course of my career and my life but it did. It’s been a blessing.
Whatservicesdoyouprovidetothecommunity?
We provide positive youth development through our innovative relational model This is delivered through after-school and in-school programs, including leadership development and mentoring. Our mentors are adult volunteers from the community, including employees from Giant, local colleges, businesses, and faith-based organizations.
Volunteers meet with a young person once a week using our DreamJourney mentoring curriculum Through this program, youth learn more about themselves, their community, and the world. At the end of their time together, each mentoring group creates a community service project to put their learning into action.
We also have highly trained staff who deeply understand how to support youth healing from trauma. Our after-school program operates 11 to 15 hours each week and provides a safe, supportive space for students every day. They work on homework, literacy, math skills, character development, and leadership In addition to academic support, students participate in activities focused on teamwork, leadership, and conflict resolution By the time they leave, most have completed their homework and have had a healthy snack.
Through our programs, we aim to help young people build a positive self-identity Many of the youth we serve have experienced trauma and may carry a sense of shame, especially if a parent has been incarcerated.
Unfortunately, trauma can lead young people to believe they have little control over their lives. We help them understand that they have more power than they realize Every day, they can make choices that shape their future showing up to school, participating in class, finishing homework, and learning how to resolve conflicts. When they recognize their own agency, it helps them make better decisions.
When
they recognize
their own agency,
it helps them make better decisions.
The skills we teach are valuable for all young people. They need to learn decision-making, understand consequences, and regain a sense of control as they heal. This growth happens in the context of caring, trusting relationships where adults share power with young people and expand the possibilities for their futures
HowhastheU.S.DreamAcademyuseddonationsfromtheGiantFoodCommunityBag Programtofurtheritsmission?
Funds from the Community Bag Program directly support our programs and activities For over 27 years, we’ve honed a model that centers on building caring, trusting relationships with young people to support healing and inspire achievement.
This work depends on the daily relationships our staff and mentors build with youth. That’s why it’s critical we raise funds to support staff salaries, materials, healthy snacks, enriching field trips, and ongoing training for both staff and volunteers.
We screen all adults who work with us, invest heavily in training, and hire support staff to maintain high standards Donations from Giant Food and others allow us to offer these high-quality afterschool programs free of charge to families who might otherwise be unable to afford tutoring or enrichment programs.
Tellusastoryaboutaprogram,service,orinitiativethattheGiantFoodCommunity BagProgramhassupported.
One young man joined our program in second grade and remained actively involved through eighth grade We continued to support him during high school with mentoring as needed
Throughout his life, both of his parents were intermittently incarcerated. His mother also struggled with addiction, which deeply impacted their household.
The Dream Academy became a refuge, a place where he could focus on his future instead of the dayto-day challenges he faced. From a young age, he told us he didn’t want to end up on the street selling drugs. That vision helped guide his path.
He graduated from high school and later from college Today, he serves his community in meaningful ways He is currently completing a fellowship in New York City and is an advocate for criminal justice reform and increased access to addiction treatment. He’s working to ensure that families affected by addiction receive support and services, not just punishment.
WhatadvicewouldyougiveothernonprofitsparticipatingintheGiantFood CommunityBagProgram?
Communicate, communicate, communicate.
We’ve found it helpful to spread the word through email and social media to our donors, partners, mentors, students, and families People often want to help but may not know how or may have limited resources. The Community Bag Program is a low-cost way to engage with Giant and support local nonprofits like the U.S. Dream Academy.
Even though it may seem like just a couple of dollars, it makes a huge difference It’s a fantastic program that allows broad community participation and has a powerful impact on the nonprofits involved.
It’s a fantastic program that allows broad community participation and has a powerful impact on the nonprofits involved.
