A tale as old as time, the love between Dutch Bros and its communities is unmatched!
In 2007, Dutch Bros launched its first annual Dutch Luv day as a canned food drive. In 2016, Dutch Luv pivoted into a giveback day in which $1 from each drink sold across all Dutch Bros shops is donated to local food organizations. This way we could ensure we were making the most impact possible! One day a year to do some massive good!
Every year since, Dutch Luv has continued to encourage generosity in the communities we serve. In 2022, more than $800,000 was raised on Dutch Luv day! The impact of Dutch Luv has greatly increased with the help of vital food organizations who put forth time, effort and resources into filling a critical need. Over the years, Dutch Bros has established ongoing relationships with many food organizations who are doing incredible work in their communities.
Josephine County Food Bank located in Grants Pass, Oregon has partnered with local Dutch Bros shops for a number of years. Since 1990, Josephine County Food Bank has collected, stored and distributed food to community members in need. Thanks to their unique location, JCFB also has the ability to incorporate fresh farm grown foods as part of their program. In 2022, the funds donated, thanks to Dutch Luv, supported the Fresh Alliance program that allows the food bank to retrieve food from local grocery stores and redistribute that food to community members in need. Thanks to this program, JCFB rescued just under 400,000 lbs in 2022!
“Having such a well-loved and well-known organization set aside a day to focus on local food access is a testament to their community spirit – and puts food insecurity into the minds of our younger community members,” said Josephine County Food Bank Executive Director, Josephine Sze. “That alone is worth so much.”
Every year leading up to Dutch Luv, Grants Pass crews join together to support Josephine County Food Bank through volunteer efforts that make a big impact. In 2022 a group of more than 50 Dutch Bros volunteers supported Josephine County Food Bank.
“Each year's financial impact allows us to support programs that serve our Josephine County community, while the volunteer impact allows us to accomplish major projects that would otherwise be impossible,” said Sze.
Community Food Basket Idaho Falls is yet another amazing partner that Dutch Bros has had the honor of supporting.
“The yearly donation made from the Dutch Luv event is incredibly important to our mission,” said Idaho Falls Community Food Basket Executive Director, Ariel Jackson.”The funds have made it possible for CFBIF to purchase pallet quantities of important food items such as cereal for breakfast for kids, eggs for every family and important meal stretching foods like rice and pasta when our shelves are getting empty.”
In addition to monetary donations, many Dutch Bros crew members spread the love by contributing the gift of their time through volunteer efforts.
“Not only does our Dutch Bros family raise funds to help support our efforts, but every year an amazing group of employees comes to our warehouse location to take part in a “sorting party” to help us organize foods into categories so we can more effectively distribute food to families,” said Sze. “We love having them and have come to depend on the yearly Dutch Luv event.”
Another Dutch Luv long-term partner, Columbia Pacific Food Bank located in St. Helens, Oregon serves one in four community members in Columbia County. In addition to fighting hunger’s root causes through education, public awareness and community advocacy, the food bank also distributes an average of 16 tons of food each week.
“It has been such a pleasure working with Dutch Bros over the years,” said Columbia Pacific Food Bank Development Director, Meagan Fawcet. “The staff at both the St. Helens and Scappoose locations are always so excited to help raise funds to feed Columbia County. And they do it with big smiles and big hearts!”
We thank our long-term partners for their contribution in turning donation funds into meals that feed many. So grab your Valentine on Friday, Feb 17, and head over to your local Dutch Bros to share some love!
