Last week, we gave a shout-out to Trader Joe’s for the very selfish reason that a study shows the store’s presence in a town increases property values.
Today we salute the fun, funky and reasonably priced market for doing good for folks who may not have homes.
Alert “06880” reader Jo Ann Davidson — okay, very alert — noticed something the other day in the little hall near the bathrooms. (You didn’t know Trader Joe’s had bathrooms? They do — and they’re spacious, clean and nicely decorated. But I never spotted what Jo Ann saw.)
A sign nearby notes — proudly, but without bragging — that Trader Joe’s recycles about-to-expire (yet still quite edible) food.
As the photo above explains, every store in the chain partners with “reliable and trustworthy” non-profits to pick up nearly expired food. (Flowers too!) Last week alone, Trader Joe’s donated nearly $12,000 worth of food.
But wait! There’s more!
They also collect winter items like coats, hats and gloves in a nearby box.
What great ideas! Thanks, Trader Joe’s (and Jo Ann).
Just imagine how much they’d collect though, if they moved the collection box away from the who-knew-they-were-there bathrooms?
Like, say, over by the spot where they hand out (fantastic) free samples every day.