Oakland member "Give Something Back" helps supplier go green while helping others.

The Perfect "3-fer": Price - Planet - People!
New Way for Businesses to Help Themselves and Others Through Holidays and Beyond

For almost 20 years, Give Something Back Business Products has provided businesses with office supplies at superstore prices, and donated more than half its profits to California nonprofits. Now GSB has come up with an exciting new way for business customers to support their communities and the planet, while also sparking enthusiasm among employees.

The new "Paper=Food" program allows customers to feed the hungry in California by simply doing something they do anyway: buy recycled paper. Each time a customer buys a case of GSB 30% or 100% post-consumer recycled paper, Give Something Back and Boise Inc. donate $1 to a select California community food bank in the county in which the purchase was made. In just the past few months, the program has generated more than $18,000 for the San Francisco Food Bank alone.

Initiated in part as a way for GSB to contribute as much as possible to nonprofits during the recession, Paper=Food has proved a powerful way for Boise to demonstrate its commitment to sustainability and its community by leveraging Give Something Back's brand and customer base. And Paper=Food is helping GSB expand its mission to use business as a way to create healthy and thriving communities.

"We are thrilled to use our business model to reach upstream, influence our suppliers, and provide more benefit to our communities and planet" said GSB Director of Sustainability Stephanie Schlecht. "There's absolutely no downside to it. Customers get great prices, service, and high quality Aspen-brand recycled paper; the food banks are better able to feed the ever-growing number of children and families suffering from hunger; and Boise gets to give back and get its workforce excited about helping."

Employees of companies that purchase the paper get to feel great about helping, too. Flyers about Paper=Food will be included with all deliveries starting in early 2010, as a reminder of how much their work and workplace are helping others.

Every county in California is eligible to receive funds through Paper=Food, which is a year round and ongoing initiative. For more information or to purchase paper and other office supplies, please visit http://www.givesomethingback.com/paperfood

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