Company announces new partnerships with 4-H, Awesome Spot and the United Way
Modesto, Calif. – The Save Mart Companies (TSMC) affirmed its longstanding commitment to the communities it serves by announcing new partnerships with local 4H clubs and more than $50,000 of donations in connection with its highly anticipated new store opening Wednesday, October 2, located at the corner of Oakdale Rd. and Sylvan Ave. in Modesto. Save Mart is also the title sponsor of the Modesto Youth Soccer Association league this fall- working to ensure that all of the community’s youth have access to play soccer and providing each team with weekly snacks for their games.
“Healthy communities require more than healthy food,” explained Nicole Pesco, Chief Executive Officer of The Save Mart Companies and Board Chair of The Save Mart Companies C.A.R.E.S. Foundation. “Ensuring access to safe recreational activities, supporting agricultural education in our schools and re-enforcing social safety-net programs are essential to a thriving community.”
A first for Save Mart, its new store will feature raised garden beds in its outdoor seating area. The Empire 4H Garden Club and Kiernan Klovers 4H Horticulture clubs will be maintaining the beds—flowers in the winter and produce in the summer. During the annual harvest season, the clubs will hold farmer’s market style produce sales in front of the store to sell what they grow and raise funds for their clubs.
“We are so excited to be able to partner with Save Mart,” expressed Jerri Peirce, Empire 4H Club president. “The children are proud to maintain the garden beds and be able to showcase their gardening skills and hard work to the community.”
The Save Mart Companies C.A.R.E.S. Foundation also announced two large donations this month. A $30,000 gift to the new Awesome Spot accessible playground, just down the block from the store, which will allow the park to feature an interactive sona. The new park aims to provide an inclusive spot where children with all physical and mental abilities can feel at home and play comfortably. Equipped with ramps, the park offers auditory and sensory integrated play. Designed and selected play items address the primary five senses through various musical/auditory instruments, varied and distinct textures and colors, and interesting combinations of motion and cause and effect activities. Park features expose children to opportunities for sensory input at intervals that they themselves control and determine.
In addition, a $20,000 gift was made to the United Way of Stanislaus County for coordination of homeless services. Funds will go towards the “Love our Neighbors” initiative which is a web portal designed to be a one-stop shop for congregations, and the greater community to discover ways to volunteer and donate in the community. This is part of the Focus on Prevention initiative that is a ten-year countywide movement that aims to improve the quality of life of all Stanislaus County residents through coordinated prevention efforts working across multiple sectors.
The Save Mart Companies and The Save Mart Companies C.A.R.E.S. Foundation collectively donate over a million dollars annually to hundreds of local organizations throughout California and Northern Nevada. C.A.R.E.S. stands for Community, Arts, Recreation, Education and Sports and focuses on improving lives under these categories. For more information about the foundation, please visit www.SaveMart.com, under the Community tab.
The Save Mart Companies operates 207 stores throughout California and Northern Nevada under the banners of FoodMaxx, Lucky and Save Mart. Based in the Central Valley, TSMC is committed to sourcing a wide variety of local products to communities throughout California and Northern Nevada. In addition to its retail operation, the company also operates Smart Refrigerated Transport and is a partner in Super Store Industries (SSI), which owns and operates a distribution center in Lathrop and the Sunnyside Farms dairy processing plant in Turlock. For more information on the company, please visit: www.TheSaveMartCompanies.com.
For more information about TSMC charitable giving or Modesto’s new Save Mart store, please contact Victoria Castro at 925.833.6136.
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