PAY IT FORWARD REUSABLE BAG PROGRAM

The Choices Pay It Forward Reusable Bag Program

How Using Reusable Bags Will Help Support Local Charitable Organizations

Paper Shopping Bags. They seem pretty innocuous. After all paper is a renewable resource and can be recycled. The problem is that many people do not recycle them, and in reality they actually require plenty of water, fuel, and trees to produce them. In fact, if they end up in the waste stream, paper bags are so heavy and take up so much space that it requires many more trucks to dispose of them.

At Choices, it is our mission to reduce the number of paper bags that our customers use, and at the same time use the financial resources saved, to give back to our community. Pay It Forward is our plan to do so. 

Anybody who brings in a REUSABLE bag for their groceries  will receive a wooden token, representing 5 cents,  to put towards one of three organizations.  The non-profit organizations will rotate.  There will be less waste, since less paper bags are used, and we can also make a positive impact on our community. Each time you use a reusable, you will get another token.

Over time, it will add up! Let’s reduce waste and invest in organizations that help make Rockford a special place!

Local Organizations

Here are the three organizations that your wooden tokens can currently go toward They were chosen because of the positive impact they have on the people in our community and beyond. Here is your additional motivation to remember those reusable bags when you head out to Choices to shop.

Nikolas Ritschel Foundation - Nik’s Wish

Mission:  The Nik's Wish mission is to grant wishes to young adults fighting cancer 18-24 who missed out on the Make-A-Wish Foundation because of the age limit, which stops support at 17 years of age. 

Nik Ritschel was diagnosed with cancer just before his 18th birthday and was granted a wish from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This wish, a trip to Hawaii, meant the world to him. It gave him hope and happiness in a time of struggle and pain. When Nik discovered that kids over 17 do not qualify, he wanted to help. The night before cancer took his life in 2012, he asked to help them have a wish too. The Nikolas Ritschel Foundation (aka Nik's Wish) was born.

There have been wishes to celebrate the end of treatment, wishes to encourage patients to keep fighting during treatment, and even last wishes to bring families together to create precious moments of joy. A Nik's Wish carves out a joyful time to laugh, love and be together - And to forget about cancer for a while.

Your donations will help fill the wish gap!

This year, the Nikolas Ritschel Foundation and his mom, Kelli Ritschel Boehle were chosen CNN Heroes for their work. Check out the CNN link below and take the time to watch the touching video that shows the joy that they are bringing to young adults who have cancer.

Superheroes Autism Center

The Superhero Center for Autism is a judgement-free community center open to all children with autism and other special needs and their families, at no cost.  The Superhero Center opened its doors in May of 2019, located at 4205 Galleria Dr in Loves Park, IL. 

Families that have a child with autism may sometimes feel like they're alone, but in this space families find support, resources,education and an incredible place for their kids to enjoy life just as they are. The center's work is community driven and supported.  We are 100% volunteer based!

For some kids with autism, sensory experiences are something to seek out.  A sensory seeking child may feel the urge to run, jump and climb.  For others, too much sensory input can be overwhelming.  Our center offers something for sensory seekers and sensory avoiders!

In addition to offering a place to play, the Superhero Center also holds a wide variety of events for families including: Moms nights, sibling nights, teen nights, parent education, summer pool party, annual resource fair, trunk or treat, sensory friendly holiday events and more!  The Center holds 2 large fundraisers per year: the annual Superhero Sprint 5k and Masquerade Ball.  The 2023 masquerade ball will be held on Saturday October 28th in Rockford.  

The Walk to End Alzheimers

 The Walk to End Alzheimers is the local connection for The Alzheimer’s Association®. With the dollars raised and donated, you enable the delivery of vital information and resources.  You help  provide face-to-face support and advance promising international research initiatives. Every dollar makes a difference in the lives of those affected by Alzheimer’s and moves us closer to the vision of a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia. 

Alzheimers Impact by the Numbers

1 in 3 seniors dies with Alzheimer's or another dementia.

More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's.

Over 11 million Americans provide unpaid care for people with Alzheimer's or other dementias.