Nature’s Path, an organic cereal and granola manufacturer in Blaine, recently stopped by the Blaine Food Bank with a donation on July 7. Not just any donation – this was the first installment of a planned donation of roughly 30,000 pounds, going out across northwest Washington.
The first installment from the organic food company tallied 7,000 pounds – with another 23,000 pounds coming over the next few weeks. It’s too much for the Blaine Food Bank (BFB) to store and distribute on its own, so the two organizations have partnered to deliver organic cereal and granola to food banks across Whatcom and Island counties.
Lisa Dobbin, BFB’s executive director, said the donation is the largest single-source corporate donation the food bank has ever received. “It’s an overwhelming world right now, and the need is getting greater and greater every day,” Dobbin said. “I don’t think there’s really any appropriate way we can ever fully appreciate them for everything they’re doing.”
It’s one part of a track record of philanthropy from the Blaine-based Nature’s Path.
Through the company’s “Bite4Bite” program, Nature’s Path donates a minimum of $2 million worth of food every year to agencies fighting hunger across North America. For the past 25 years, Nature’s Path has also partnered with Feed the Children, a nonprofit fighting childhood food insecurity, providing 1.3 million pounds of food to children in need.
It’s also not the first time the company has donated to BFB. Nature’s Path has made intermittent donations for years and provided gift bags during Christmas.
Nature’s Path decided to give back to its local food bank to celebrate 15 years of Love Crunch, its popular sweet granola mixture created after founders Arjan Stephens and Rimjhim Duggal Stephens made it as a wedding favor.
“Located just seven minutes from our Blaine plant, this donation feels especially close to our hearts,” the company wrote in a social media statement. “We are grateful for the meaningful work the Blaine Food Bank does every day to support our community. It is a privilege to stand beside them and contribute to their mission.”
