Raley’s Food For Families donates own-brand kitchen utensils to charities

Raley’s Family of Fine Stores, headquartered West Sacramento, Calif., in partnership with Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.-based Bradshaw International, donated more than $80,000 worth of its Chef Style private brand kitchen utensils to various organizations within the community.

Raley’s said it underwent a chainwide conversion from its Chef Style brand kitchen gadgets to Good Cook kitchen utensils in January. The distributor, Bradshaw International, donated the remaining Chef Style products, which amounted to more than 20,000 individual items ranging from rolling pins and can openers to paring knives and meat thermometers. The donation is meant to teach kids to cook, help families in need and assist in healthy eating preparation.

“Bradshaw International is pleased to have participated with Raley’s in such a worthy cause,” said Brice Striggow, western regional sales manager for Bradshaw International. “Donations like kitchenware products go a long way toward supporting the basic essentials of everyday life and inspiring others to cook. We are thrilled to be able to keep this support local, donating through organizations that do a monumental job helping those in need every day.”

Recipients included the Food Literacy Center, which teaches low-income elementary school aged children cooking and nutrition to improve their health, environment and economy.

“We're excited to help our kids create new memories with our new kitchen equipment,” said Amber Stott, founder, Food Literacy Center. “These are the kinds of tools that allow us to help kids create fond memories — while enjoying the healthy bounty this region has to offer!”

Donations will also be used for the various Salvation Army social services programs in Sacramento County, including the E. Claire Raley Transitional Living Center, Raley's said. In addition, kitchen gadgets were shared with the Sacramento Food Bank and Rosemont, Grant and Luther Burbank High Schools through the GEO Academy, which has a mission to teach youth how to create healthy and sustainable communities. 

 “Partners like Bradshaw International share our vision to support our local communities,” said Becca Whitman, Raley’s community relations manager. “Their support allows us to bring a great benefit to those organizations serving our communities.  These utensils will be helping kids learn to cook and providing comfort to local families.”