An estimated 49 million Americans are food-insecure. Of those 49 million, almost 17 million are children and 5 million are seniors. Last year, over 37 million people used a Food Bank for emergency food assistance. The San Antonio Food Bank’s SA Goes Orange Campaign offers companies and individuals the opportunity to make a difference by raising funds and awareness for hunger reliefe. SA Goes Orange engages San Antonians in public awareness and fundraising activities that will ultimately help the San Antonio Food Bank end hunger in Southwest Texas. For more info on how you can help during SA Goes Orange visit www.safoodbank.org.

Of course, the next time you visit our Whole Earth store in the Quarry Market, please take time to make a small donation to this very worthy cause. You can also leave canned and dry goods at any of the participating businesses in Quarry Market for the entire month of September, 2011.

If you are planning a visit to Seminole Canyon in the near future, you may have to change your plans. As of July 27th, the Park is temporarily closed due to problems with the public water supply system. The Park hopes to have the problem resolved soon.

For detailed information about Seminole Canyon visit the website of Texas Parks and Wildlife.

For the most up-to-date information please contact the Park at 432-292-4464

April was ‘Earth Month’ at Whole Earth. One of the components was to raise money for local environmental organizations around the state of Texas. Our store in the Quarry Market Center in San Antonio collected donations from our customers, staff, and friends for the benefit of Green Spaces Alliance of South Texas, an innovative non-profit doing wonderful projects all over Bexar County.

Shown above from the left is Max Kokinda, Whole Earth store manager, presenting a check for over $1,400 to Susan Hughes, Green Spaces Executive Director, and Blair Condon on the right, also a Green Spaces manager. They plan to employ the funds in their ‘Picture Your World’ youth photography program: one that fosters an appreciation of nature, art, and creativity in elementary school students in San Antonio.

We extend our deepest gratitude to all the community-minded folks in San Antonio who contributed to this Earth Month endeavor. Great job!

The Banff Mountain Film Festival is hosted as a benefit each Spring ( in Austin ) by Whole Earth Provision Co. The 2011 beneficiary of that festival is Westcave Preserve, which is located in southwestern Travis County. Recently the proceeds from the Banff fest totaling $4000.00 was presented to Molly Stevens, Executive Director  of Westcave, (pictured on the left above) by Whole Earth’s General Manager, Walter Wakefield.

Whole Earth is a proud supporter of Westcave Preserve and we highly recommend that you take a look at what this wonderful 75 acres of Hill Country has to offer.

SAVE OUR WATER

Again this summer, Chaco footwear and Whole Earth Provision Co. are teaming up to the benefit of almost everyone’s favorite Texas park: Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. Several thousands of dollars have been contributed through the previous editions of this program. To help out, simply visit any of the eight Whole Earth stores around the state and for every pair of Chacos you buy, Chaco will donate $5.00 to the beneficiary that Whole Earth has designated.

Whole Earth is happy to once again pick the Friends of Enchanted Rock to utilize the funds raised through this program at the Rock. The event is scheduled to be active from June 25th through July 10th.  The Friends of Enchanted Rock has decided to use this year’s funds to save water in the park. Conserving water is especially important at Enchanted Rock as water shortage is a serious issue there. This being the third consecutive year of drought, the plan is to replace all the existing plumbing in the restrooms to low flow, water saving fixtures. They may literally run out of water this summer due to the outdated, water-
wasting faucets, urinals, and shower heads still in place.

We say its way overdue in coming. Please help. And, of course, you will love your new pair of Chacos.

Whole Earth’s Dallas stores conducted a funddrive this Spring to benefit Cedar Ridge Preserve in southern Dallas. Above, store manager Dana Campbell (right) presents a check for $1036 to Robert Rinker, executve director of Cedar Ridge. The funds will be used to help maintain more than nine miles of trails within this wonderful piece of urban wilderness managed by the Dallas Audubon Society.

‘Thanks’ to all the generous patrons of Whole Earth’s two Dallas locations for your great support. Please take the short drive out to Cedar Ridge to enjoy a day of hiking, trail running or wildlife viewing. More information and directions.