Photo: WHCU
ITHACA, N.Y. (WHCU) – Tops Friendly Market raises over $248,000 dollars for charities while reducing its carbon footprint.
Tops Totes for Change (Image provided)
Since 2019, Tops Totes for Change has allowed shoppers to buy a reusable bag from their stores with a special charity design. These bags only cost $1.99, but $1 of the proceeds gets donated to four local community organizations. So far the program has raised $248,139 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, United Way, Feeding America, and Children’s Miracle Network.
The program has also helped reduce the use of plastic bags. After the 2020 plastic bag ban in New York, Tops saw a large increase in sales for Tops Totes for Change Bags.