The new natural foods grocer, Lucky's Market, is set to open their Southgate Mall location on Wednesday, May 2nd, and their grand opening events will benefit some Missoula nonprofits.

Opening day activities for the Missoula store include a bacon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. and presentations of more than $10,000 in Impact Grants to support three local non-profit organizations – Garden City Harvest, to provide supplies such as: educational materials, tools, compost and straw for their entire community gardens program; Youth Homes, to support their Youth Crisis Diversion Project, and provide shelter and resources for 10 youth in crisis for three days each; and Open Aid Alliance, to provide a new laptop to help train individuals in Overdose Prevention and Response.

Other special events planned around the store’s opening include:

  • Tasting Fair on Saturday, May 5 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring live music, some of Lucky’s Market’s favorite vendors, delicious food samples and gift basket giveaways.
  • Bags for Change through August 18, 2018, shoppers reusing their shopping bags can choose to get a 10-cent credit on their purchase or to send a donation to CASA of Missoula, Women’s Opportunity & Resource Development (WORD, Inc.) or Poverello Center.
  • Impact Day on Tuesday, May 8 in which 10% of one day’s total net sales will go to Watershed Education Network to purchase field supplies for the weekend citizen-science project, Stream Team, for one calendar year.
  • Lucky’s Loves Local Vendor Fair, May 19 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring specialty foods and products from local companies.

So it sounds like, although Lucky's is a chain, they will be giving back to our community. And their "Community Impact Program" will ensure that they will provide ongoing assistance and dedication to improving the quality of life in Western Montana, not just for their grand opening.

Lucky's is still hiring through April 20th, here's more info. And, honestly, they had us at "bacon cutting ceremony."

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