We’ve Raised $10 Million for Food Equality—Thanks to You

At Thrive Market, it’s always been part of our mission to fight food inequality. We believe that health and wellness shouldn’t be a privilege; rather, it’s everyone’s right to be able to provide healthy, affordable groceries to their families. 

Unfortunately, that’s not the case for many Americans, which is why in 2020 we made a pledge to raise $10 million dollars towards democratizing healthy living by 2025—and today, we have some big news on our progress. 

$10 Million Raised for Food Equality Now

As a grocery store on a mission to provide access to healthy and sustainable food to as many people as possible, we knew we had to take action. In November 2020, as the pandemic heightened food insecurity for many families, we announced our Food Equality Now campaign and pledged to raise $10 million by 2025. We set up a Food Equality Fund at checkout and asked our members to support this pledge and help to support the most impacted families and communities in the country.

And guess what? Our members showed up—in a big, big way. As of February 2023, we have achieved our $10 million goal nearly two years early.

Food Insecurity by the Numbers

To understand why combating food insecurity is such a huge part of our mission, it’s important to understand exactly how food insecurity affects the population. Here’s some quick background: 

• Unequal access to healthy food plagues 34 million Americans. 

• COVID-19 exacerbated the food inequality gap; in 2020, 15% of families with children did not have access to healthy food.
  
• Because of systemic barriers to education, employment, and housing, BIPOC Americans experience food inequality at even more dramatic rates. Feeding America projected that 21.6% of Black individuals—1 out of every 5 people—may have experienced food insecurity in 2020, compared to 12.3% of white individuals.
  
• Single parents, 80% of whom are women, are also disproportionately affected by food insecurity. 

How We’re Fighting Food Inequality

With the support of our members, we’ve been able to support a number of causes and organizations dedicated to the fight against food inequality.

FoodCorps

A part of the AmeriCorps network of nonprofit organizations, FoodCorps connects children in school systems nationwide with healthy food and food education. They place educators in schools to teach students about nutritio, and they advocate at the federal level for better policy surrounding food access in schools. Our long-standing partnership with FoodCorps has allowed us to support thousands of children’s access to healthy food and food education in high-need schools.

FoodCycle LA

In 2022, we began our partnership with FoodCycle LA, an organization that works to connect food donors with nonprofit organizations that help feed food insecure communities in Los Angeles (their mission is to “Feed People, Not Landfills”). By joining forces with FoodCycle LA, we provided thousands of boxes of healthy pantry staples for local food insecure communities while also helping to fight food waste.

Thrive Gives

Our Thrive Gives program provides free Thrive Market memberships to those in financial need, including parents, children, teachers, first responders, nurses, students and veterans. Every paid annual membership equals a one year Thrive Gives membership that helps people like Connie, an ER doctor, and Hannah, a mom of seven, get the healthy essentials they need for their families. 

What’s Next in the Fight Against Food Inequality?

We’re taking a moment to celebrate this monumental milestone, which we couldn’t have accomplished without your generosity and support. But we know this is only the beginning—we’re committed to democratizing healthy living for all Americans, not just today, but always. 

Follow along with Thrive Market on Instagram and on our blog to stay involved with Food Equality Now and future initiatives.