Indulging and Giving at the Grocery Store

When their grandfather died of esophageal cancer in 2003, sisters Molly and Carly Houlahan wanted to do something significant that would both honor his memory and help fund the search for a cancer cure.

"He was our best friend and role model," Molly says. "It was the first time we had lost someone, and you recognize how precious life is."

So Molly, 18, and Carly, 16, put a family hobby to work and formed Hives for Lives.

The Devon, Penn.-based company harvests, filters, bottles, labels and sells its own honey, and all profits are donated to fund cancer research. At first, the duo sold at crafts fairs and horse shows. But eventually, they expanded to local bakeries and kitchen stores and added beeswax candles to their product line. Soon the local Whole Foods asked them to sell at the store's Sunday farmers’ market. Their products ended up on the shelves of one Whole Foods store after another until Hives for Lives could be found across nine of the company's 11 U.S. market regions. They also take orders for all their products on their website, hivesforlives.com.

The Houlahans have received numerous awards and honors for their efforts, including the 2007 middle school and high school Prudential Spirit of the Community awards as the top youth volunteers in Pennsylvania, President's Volunteer Service Award, The American Cancer Society and the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes for their contributions.

By 2010, Hives for Lives had donated nearly $170,000 to the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the Penn Abramson Cancer Center and other cancer research charities. That's largely because no one at the company draws a salary. The Houlahans devote evenings and weekends to their business, which also has a network of volunteer "helper bees" who donate their time either for the experience or because they have a personal connection to the disease and want to support the cause.

Today’s gift was to follow the Houlahan’s lead. Although I’m not making honey, I can help a nonprofit every time I go to the grocery store. Through Fred Meyer’s Give Back program, I chose a local charity to receive a donation from a portion of what I spend. The company gives a total of $2.5 million each year to local schools, community organizations and nonprofits.

Visit Fredmeyer.com/communityrewards or ask your local store about a similar program. I can feel better about indulging in fresh mozzarella cheese, Kalamata Olives or steak because I know it is helping a good cause.

In Giving,

Robin