Whole Foods customers give $1M toward Haitian relief

AUSTIN, Texas Whole Foods Market announced that its customers at 289 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom have donated $1 million to several relief efforts in Haiti since Jan. 14.

"Whole Foods Market has seen first-hand the big hearts of its customers during difficult times like these and we are so amazed at their generosity," said A.C Gallo, co-president and chief operating officer of Whole Foods Market. "We have made it easy for customers to give what they can at our registers to help deliver critical aid to the people of Haiti."

Donation drives at the company's checkout counters will continue at all stores until Jan. 31 and directly support a variety of non-profit relief organizations, Whole Foods reported.

Additionally, through its Whole Planet Foundation. Whole Foods Market is doubling its original commitment to now provide $1 million to its on-the-ground microlending partner in Haiti, Fonkoze.  As one of Haiti's leading microfinance institutions, Fonkoze offers microcredit along with a full range of financial services to the poor and underserved throughout the country.  The additional funding from Whole Foods Market will assist Fonkoze in rebuilding critical infrastructure lost in the earthquake as they attempt to resume operations. The Whole Planet Foundation is Whole Foods Market's nonprofit organization that helps developing countries through microfinance.