NORWAY, IOWA (April 3, 2020) –

Simply Organic, a leader in organic herbs, spices, flavors and seasonings, is providing $25,000 in additional support to its 2020 Giving Fund Partners fighting food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic.  These funds are in addition to the $100,000 the brand committed in January 2020.

“Food access organizations across the U.S. are facing significant strain on their resources, all while working to meet an ever-increasing demand through this pandemic,” said Simply Organic Brand Manager Katie Shatzer. 

These additional funds will help organizations continue their vital mission during these extraordinary times.

“Everyone has a lot on their minds right now, but figuring out how to continue to feed your family shouldn’t be one of them,” added Shatzer. 

 

Simply Organic will provide an additional $5,000 to each of its five Giving Fund partner organizations. The organizations will use these grants to meet immediate needs as the result of the coronavirus pandemic.  

• Emergency Food Network: Emergency Food Network’s Mother Earth Farm, a hunger relief farm that partners with a regional correctional facility to teach incarcerated women job and life skills, will use the money to purchase additional food to meet their growing need and keep their network of food pantries, meal sites, and shelters open for distribution to families and individuals in need in the state of Washington. 
• Coastal Roots Farm: Coastal Roots Farm is a nonprofit Jewish community farm and education center that cultivates healthy communities by integrating sustainable agriculture and food justice. Their team will be using the funds to meet increased need for staff to be able to grow, harvest and distribute fresh, organic, nutrient dense fruits, vegetables, herbs and eggs to the most vulnerable member of their community in their greatest time of need.  
• Project Worthmore: Project Worthmore serves Denver area refugees through a training farm and a culturally relevant food access program run by and for the refugee and immigrant community. With limited space in their food pantry, since the COVID-19 pandemic the organization has had to shift their food distribution model to a delivery service to ensure the individuals using their services were able to remain safe. These additional funds will be used to support and expand their new delivery system to provide much needed resources to the families they serve. 
• Matthew 25: Matthew 25 is an Iowa-based nonprofit organization with a variety of programs to strengthen and transform neighborhoods including their Groundswell Café — a ‘pay-it-forward’ café that gives all people access to healthy organic food, and gives area residents the ability to contribute at whatever level they’re able to help their neighbors in need. While Groundswell Café has been temporarily close to help maintain social distancing measures, the café staff have been reaching out in their community to help distribute meals to as many people as they can, from donating the rest of their perishable food items to a local soup kitchen to partnering with their local shelter to prepare meals for people facing homelessness through this time. Additional funds will be used to maintain this staff while they continue to do this important work until the café is ready to open its doors once again. 
• Feed Iowa First: Feed Iowa First uses donated plots of land surrounding local churches and businesses to grow fresh, organic produce for local food pantries in eastern Iowa. Recently, the space that houses most of their operations experienced damage to their roof. In order to keep the produce they’re raising safe for the individuals they serve, they will be using the additional funds to repair the roof and purchase materials necessary to keep the produce currently in hand at proper humidity levels for food safety. 

 

Established in 2001, the Simply Organic Giving Fund has supported organic agricultural development around the world. In 2018, the brand turned its domestic giving focus to the important work of supporting organizations dedicated to nourishing the millions of food insecure in the United States. Since 2001, the Simply Organic Giving Fund has given more than $2 million to projects around the globe. 

Annually, Frontier Co-op, Simply Organic’s parent brand, commits 4% of its profits to socially responsible causes across the U.S. and around the world through its branded giving programs and its sustainable sourcing program, Well Earth.

To learn more about the Simply Organic Giving Fund and 2020 recipients, visit http://www.simplyorganic.com/community/about/giving-back.

 

Simply Organic^®
Simply Organic, an all-organic brand from Frontier Co-op^®, offers an extensive and growing selection of certified organic spices, seasonings, and baking flavors while supporting organic agriculture around the globe. Find out more about Simply Organic at www.simplyorganic.com. 

Frontier Co-op^®
Founded in 1976 and based in Norway, Iowa, Frontier Co-op offers a full line of products for natural living under the Frontier Co-op, Simply Organic, and Aura Cacia brands. Products include culinary herbs, spices and baking flavors; bulk herbs and spices; and aromatherapy products — with a wide selection of organics. Frontier Co-op’s goal is to provide consumers with the highest-quality products while supporting and promoting social and environmental responsibility. For more information, visit the co-op's website at www.frontiercoop.com.