Haggen's donates $40,000 to national parks and gives away trees for Earth Day

To show its love for the precious lakes, rivers, beaches and mountains of the Pacific Northwest, West Coast regional grocer Haggen donated more than $40,000 to support four national parks located in Washington and Oregon. The dollar amount represents 2% of sales on Earth Day from the company’s Washington and Oregon stores.

Haggen’s Facebook followers were invited to vote for their favorite national park between Earth Day on April 22 and April 28. The 1,192 votes determined what percentage of the funds would be donated to each park. The votes have been tallied:

• Olympic National Park received 31% of the votes and $12,433
• Rainier National Park received  27% of the votes and  $10,829
• North Cascades National Park received 26% of the votes and $10,428
• Crater Lake National Park received 16% of the votes and $6,417

Haggen will donate $6,417 to the Friends of Crater Lake National Park and $33,690 to Washington’s National Park Fund which will divide up the funds between the three parks as decided on by the votes.

Tree giveaway
Photo courtesy Haggen

Earth Day Tree Giveaway

In addition to the donation, Haggen celebrated Earth Day by giving away 24,000 free saplings at its Washington and Oregon stores. The varieties included Red Osier Dogwood, Mock Orange, Vine Maple, Golden Currant, Baldhip Rose, Western Hemlock, Grand Fir, Shore Pine and Ponderosa Pine, and were provided by Washington Association of Conservation Districts (WACD) Plant Materials Center in Bow, Washington. WACD is a 60-acre non-profit wholesale nursery providing high quality plants, shrubs and services that benefit natural resources and improve conservation efforts.

Haggen purchased 46 stores in Washington state which were available because of the Safeway - Albertson's merger. The Shoreline Safeway was the 4th store converted. 30 stores have been converted with the Lake Forest Park Albertson's still on the list to be done.