Sprouts Farmers Market employees volunteer for the fourth annual Day of Service.

Sprouts’ Fourth Annual Day of Service Brings Together 1,000 Volunteers

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2022 Day of Service Recap

Team members from across the country came together for Sprouts’ fourth annual Day of Service event series. Kicking off on October 1, the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation has supported weekly volunteer projects throughout October and November from Marlton, New Jersey down to Palm Beach, Florida, and westward from San Diego, California up to Seattle, Washington. Groups of 10 to 25 volunteers have donated their time, primarily on Saturday mornings, to nonprofit partner projects. Having a “rolling” volunteer schedule has allowed the nonprofits and Sprouts representatives to join up on dates that work best for them, giving more time to plan larger activities or to accommodate the changing seasons.


The Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation’s executive director, Lyndsey Waugh said “This has been the largest Day of Service showing since we began the program in 2018. Each year, we’ve seen more interest from our team members and more requests from our communities. It’s a beautiful thing Sprouts has created, and we’re excited to keep it growing!”



Members from Sprouts’ executive leadership team participated as well, volunteering alongside future “Sprouties” (click here to see the leadership team in action). Since the series kicked off earlier this fall, more than 1,000 Sprouts team members and their guests/family members have donated over 4,000 service hours, building school gardens, painting murals, assembling food bags, and more.


A mom volunteers with her daughters.
Getting the kids involved in serving the community. (United Food Bank – Mesa, Arizona)

Adults and children use tools to build out a school garden.
Members of Sprouts’ leadership team volunteered with their families in Tempe, Arizona.



Partner Appreciations

Nonprofit partners, such as PEAS in Austin, Texas or or Neighborhood Gardens Trust in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania have noted how helpful the volunteers have been.



“We are so grateful to be a part of the Sprouts Community, and for your support of our work! A special thanks to the local team for coming out to volunteer with us. They helped us with a big job we had been wanting to take care of for a long time, doing the heavy lifting to get some poles moved so we can improve the shade for our students and campers at the community farm,” said Lauren Maples, Executive Director at PEAS.

 

Volunteers with the Day of Service program pose for a group photo.
Volunteers in Austin at the start of their Day of Service.

 

Volunteers install a shade sail at a school in Austin, Texas.
Assembling the shade structure for the school garden.

“What a great time we had on Saturday at the Pulaski Zeralda Community Garden! Thank you for the teamwork, high spirits, and stipend support which made this this workday such a success. The garden has twelve new wooden raised beds installed as well as three elevated beds for seniors to garden, and lots of nutrient-rich soil for bumper crops next season. The gardeners are thrilled!” said Jenny Greenberg, Executive Director at Neighborhood Gardens Trust.

Volunteers carry a wooden garden bed across grass.
Sprouts volunteers in Philadelphia carry a large wooden garden bed.

Volunteers place a wooden garden bed into a vibrant garden.
Team work helps get the job done!

Celebrating Our Impact

Given weather delays, the final events are set to take place in early December, bringing the total count to 59 locations. To all of the Sprouts team members, family members, and community partners who helped make this event a success – thank you! Photos from the Day of Service can be found in the album here, and if you’d like to have your photos added, please submit them to [email protected].





Group Pictures

Volunteers smile while helping out in a school garden.
Transforming a school garden with Captain Planet Foundation in Atlanta, Georgia.

 

Three men add soil to a garden bed and smooth it over with a rake.
Filling a new garden bed with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach, Florida.

 

Happy volunteers pack food boxes for the community.
Packing emergency food boxes with Tarrant Area Food Bank in Fort Worth, Texas.

 

People raise their arms in excitement for the volunteer day.
Volunteers supported the “Giant Student Farmers Market” with Green Our Planet in Las Vegas, Nevada.

 

Volunteers work hard in the garden, clearing dirt with shovels.
Building an outdoor learning space with Sage Garden Project in San Diego, California.