Origins:
As the oldest grocery store in the DMV, Giant continually aims to join with community members to embolden their pride and proudly declare “This is Home,” an ongoing brand campaign celebrating how Giant’s food fuels the passions, activities, and lives of the DMV’s diverse communities. Giant Food’s Artist/Community Bag initiative brought the company's “This is Home” campaign, celebrating how Giant fuels the lives of the DMV’s diverse communities, to life through creating a creative grocery accessory into a way for shoppers to carry a piece of their local community. To give each shopper a way to carry their hometown pride, Giant partnered with four local artists from across the DMV, each illustrating what “home” means in their community through a reusable bag design, drawing inspiration from local foods, family traditions, landmarks, and people. $1 from every bag sold during its first month in stores was donated to each artist’s local charity of choice, demonstrating how Giant Food continues to invest in the communities it serves.
Contribution:
As a community grocery store, Giant Food recognizes its responsibility to support associates, customers, and communities by providing resources and services that help people thrive. One way Giant achieved that was through its Artist/Community Bag program, which aimed to create a tangible item shoppers could carry throughout their neighborhoods while supporting community partners. Giant partnered with local artists Janna Morton of Maryland, Doudgy Charmant and Sara Conedera of Washington, D.C., Eric Dolgas of Virginia, and Brittany Coleman of Delaware to transform personal experiences, local landmarks, food, and community stories into original designs reflecting Giant’s “This is Home” campaign. Morton incorporated Baltimore Album Quilt motifs, local foods, and landmarks. Charmant and Conedera created a vibrant design featuring bold colors and expressive characters. Dolgas designed a detailed black-and-white mural with hidden elements, while Coleman’s artwork highlighted nature, family, and shared memories through a bright, heartfelt composition.
Objectives:
Giant Food remains committed to being a better neighbor, and that starts with its investment in the communities it serves. Through the Artist/Community Bag program, Giant celebrated the beauty of local neighborhoods with a sustainable, reusable bag, while also providing direct financial support to local nonprofit organizations and food bank partners. Donations from this program support groups focused on education, civic, health and wellness, hunger relief, and military/veteran organizations. Once organizations are selected to participate in the program, the organization’s name will be posted on the reusable bag rack during their benefiting month, gaining visibility among community members. Giant Food continues to drive meaningful impact across its region by investing in customers’ well-being through food and supporting organizations that strengthen local communities.
Impact:
Giant Food’s Artist/Community bag program invites shoppers to purchase a reusable bag, in which $1 from every bag sold during its first month in stores was donated to each artist’s local charity of choice. Every month, leadership at each store chooses a local nonprofit to be the beneficiary of the Bag program. This program directly supports organizations serving the neighborhoods that inspire the designs while also making it easier for shoppers to support their communities and environment by buying durable, reusable shopping bags. In total, from April 2024 to May 2026, Giant sold 246,944 bags, prevented the use of 7,408,320 single-use plastic bags, and supported 936 nonprofit organizations. Additionally, every $1 donation allows hungry relief partners to secure and distribute 10 meals to those in need, which equaled an estimate of 1,120,500 meals.
Quote:
“Giant Food is a company rooted in community, service, and commitment to showing up for others. We bring that value to life through our charitable giving and community-focused initiatives. The Arist/Community Bag program is a great example of how we support our customers while investing in the organizations and partnerships that help our communities thrive.” President Ira Kress
Support Statement:
“The donations from the Community bag program go a long way as it will be enough to provide 143 weekend food bags. Each food bag costs about $7 to make. Another great thing about the program is that Giant puts our name up in the stores, allowing people to see it. Many people who may not know about Baltimore Hunger Project might become interested in our organization and cause through this program.” Baltimore Hunger Project
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