We believe that knowledge is power. As a retailer offering tens of thousands of foods in our stores, we have a responsibility to help inform those in our communities on the definition and benefits of a nutritious diet. Through our own efforts and collaborations with key community partners, we support numerous nutrition education programs each year.
Community Programs
Through ongoing financial support, we help further the missions of important organizations such as Common Threads and Grow Pittsburgh to help children and families create healthy eating habits. Additionally, through partnerships with groups like the American Heart Association, we take collaborative nutrition education efforts directly into the communities we serve.
Current Initiatives
Giant Eagle Mobile Market
In addition to providing fresh, nutritious groceries to underserved areas, our Mobile Market serves as a place for our partners to connect with our Guests on the importance of, and how to maintain, a balanced diet. Previous partners include American Diabetes Association (ADA) and UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center).
Grow Pittsburgh
Grow Pittsburgh is a charitable nonprofit that serves as a resource and guide for backyard, school and community gardeners, as well as urban farmers across the Greater Pittsburgh region. Their mission is to teach people how to grow food and to promote the benefits that gardens bring to our neighborhoods.Giant Eagle proudly sponsors Grow Pittsburgh’s Urban Farmer in Training Program (UFIT), which provides nutrition education and cooking lessons for local teens every summer.The program has four components that are woven throughout the experience: Learning to grow food, cooking, understanding the food system, building leadership and public speaking skills. Each component is designed to deepen youths’ relationship to fresh food and farming. Participants learn how to grow, prepare and cook fresh produce while they explore their relationship to the local food system, build leadership and public speaking skills, and develop financial responsibility. These lessons impact health, hunger, and food system disparities by allowing teens to grow and share fresh food within their own communities, many of whom face high levels of food insecurity.
Common Threads
Common Threadsis a national nonprofit that supports food as medicine. They inspire communities to embrace healthy cooking, healthy eating and the celebration of culture by providing children, families and educators with hands-on cooking and nutrition education classes. We proudly sponsor student cooking classes and nutrition education by providing funding to Common Threads, as well as gift cards to cover the costs of cooking demonstrations.
Little Shopper Treat Card Program
Giant Eagle and Market District Guests can purchase a yearly Little Shopper Treat Card for only $1. This card allows children to pick out a snack, such as fruit or cheese, each time they shop in our stores. All proceeds from card sales go to supporting the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital’s nutrition education and programming efforts.