Whole Foods Donates $10K to Women & Infants Integrative Care Program

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Wednesday, December 01, 2010

GoLocalProv Health Team

Three days of shopping at RI-based Whole Foods Markets just translated into nearly $10,000 for the Integrative Care Program in the Program in Women’s Oncology at Women & Infants Hospital.

The donation, made through Whole Foods’ charitable giving program, represented 5% of the net sales from a day’s net sales in all three locations.

“One of Whole Foods Markets’ core values is to support non-profit charitable organizations in its community,” said Bonnie Frechette, marketing team leader at Whole Foods Market. “We selected the Integrative Care Program this quarter as it provides a multitude of wellness programs to people in the Rhode Island community who are undergoing cancer treatment, or are a cancer survivor, regardless of where they receive treatment or their ability to pay."

Improving quality of life

“Often, these services greatly improve a cancer patient’s quality of life," Frechette said, "and bring much-needed support to their caregivers and families.”

The Program in Women’s Oncology was one of the first in the nation to offer an extensive menu of integrative therapies to provide comfort, pain relief and stress relief for the women undergoing cancer treatment. These therapies include massage, acupuncture, Reiki, hypnotherapy, yoga, meditation, expressive art therapy, poetry writing, journaling and music therapy.

“This support from the community is integral to the mission of the Integrative Care Program and the Program in Women’s Oncology,” said Sandra Scuncio, director. “We provide the types of therapies and programs that make a woman comfortable and relaxed while she is going through the rigors of treatment for cancer. We are grateful to Whole Foods for their continued support of these efforts.”