The Instacart App allows anyone in the U.S. to
donate essentials directly to impacted schools, students and
teachers
The new initiative supports 28 Los Angeles
County public and charter schools across Altadena, the Pacific Palisades and Pasadena, and nearly 15,000 students across
the region
Instacart Board of Directors kicks off giving
campaign with $1 million charitable
donation
SAN
FRANCISCO, Feb. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/
-- Instacart (NASDAQ: CART), the leading grocery technology
company in North America, today
launched its 'Classroom Carts' initiative, which supports 28 Los
Angeles County public and charter elementary, middle and high
schools and nearly 15,000 students impacted by the recent
wildfires. Built on Instacart's Community Carts tool, Classroom
Carts empowers people nationwide to support students and teachers
by donating essential supplies directly to impacted schools through
the Instacart App as the Los
Angeles community works to rebuild in the wake of one of the
most significant natural disasters in California history.
Instacart partnered with the California State Superintendent of
Public Instruction Tony Thurmond,
the Los Angeles County Office of Education, the Pasadena Unified
School District and the Los Angeles Unified School District to
identify schools in need. Instacart's Board of Directors is kicking
off the Classroom Carts initiative by donating a total of
$1 million to the Greater Los Angeles
Education Foundation, the Pasadena Education Foundation and the
LAUSD Foundation to supplement the Instacart community's
contributions to the 28 participating schools. Company advisors and
outside firms like Cooley and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
have also joined in to contribute additional funds to the
foundations.
"The recent wildfires have had a devastating impact on the
Los Angeles community, with
schools being some of the hardest-hit institutions. Teachers and
administrators are working around the clock to restore a sense of
normalcy, but they can't do it alone," said Fidji Simo, CEO and
Board Chair of Instacart and a Los
Angeles resident. "With Classroom Carts, we're giving people
across the country a simple and meaningful way to step in and
directly contribute the items schools have said they need. Through
this initiative, we can help ensure that students and teachers
across LA have access to essential supplies, allowing them to
reconnect and engage in the classroom."
Tony Thurmond, the California
State Superintendent of Public Instruction, said, "Our school
communities in Southern California
need our unwavering support as they face the impact of these
devastating wildfires. Time and again, our education community has
shown remarkable resilience and generosity in the face of crisis.
I'm grateful for generous partners like Instacart as we stand
together to support our students, families, and educators as they
recover and rebuild."
The wildfires caused extensive damage, destroying classrooms,
libraries, and other vital school resources, meaning many schools
now face critical shortages of essential supplies like notebooks,
pencils, rulers, art supplies and more. Classroom Carts allows
anyone across the country to offer support by opening the Instacart
App and selecting the Classroom Carts banner or visiting
www.instacart.com/donate. Customers can then select from the 28
participating schools and shop for as many items as they choose
from a curated list of items based on each school's specific needs.
Instacart partners with a variety of retailers in the Los Angeles area that carry school and office
supplies, home goods, technology and more. A local shopper will
shop and deliver donated items and Instacart will consolidate
donated items for delivery to each school. The company is waiving
all delivery and service fees on every Classroom Carts order.
The Classroom Carts initiative builds on Instacart's commitment
to using its technology to support communities. The company's
initial LA Fire Relief Community Carts campaign has provided
more than 50,000 essential items to 17 local YMCAs and community
food banks across the region.
Supporting quotes from county school leaders:
"The wildfires have deeply impacted our schools, disrupting the
lives of thousands of students and educators. Classroom Carts will
help provide critical support by helping schools restock the
supplies they need to sustain teaching and learning," said
Dr. Debra Duardo,
Superintendent of Schools at the Los Angeles County Office of
Education. "Instacart's commitment to partnering
with our community is an important example of how collaboration can
strengthen our collective recovery efforts. By working together, we
can ensure that students and teachers have the resources to rebuild
and continue the school year without further interruption."
"The resilience of our students, educators, and families in the
wake of the Eaton Fire is a testament to the power of 'us' in PUSD.
As we work to restore and rebuild our communities, the support of
partners like Instacart through its Classroom Carts initiative is
invaluable," said Elizabeth
Blanco, Ed.D., Superintendent of Pasadena Unified School
District. "This effort ensures that schools across our
district have access to the essential supplies to help students and
teachers regain a sense of stability. Instacart's commitment to our
schools demonstrates the power of collaboration, and we are
grateful for their role in helping us move forward together."
Supporting quotes from foundations:
"In times of crisis, our schools are more than just places to
learn – they're vital sources of stability, connection, and support
for students, educators, and families. The devastation caused by
these wildfires has upended so many lives, and the road to recovery
will be long. But with partners like Instacart and its Classroom
Carts initiative, we're bringing communities together to help
schools get the essential supplies they need to start rebuilding,"
said Kerry Franco, President
of the Greater Los Angeles Education Foundation.
"We're also deeply grateful for the generous contribution to the
Foundation, which will help ensure schools have the critical
supplies they need to support students and teachers during this
difficult time. The outpouring of support we've seen is a testament
to the strength of our communities – proof that even in the face of
loss, we are not alone. Together, we're not just helping schools
recover; we're giving students and educators the foundation to
rebuild, reconnect, and move forward with hope."
"Schools are at the heart of our communities, providing students
not just with an education, but with stability, support, and a
sense of belonging. The impact of these wildfires has been
devastating, displacing families and disrupting classrooms across
Los Angeles," said
Sara Mooney, Interim Executive
Director of the Los Angeles Unified School District Education
Foundation. "As we focus on rebuilding, the generosity of
partners like Instacart through the Classroom Carts initiative is
providing real, tangible relief to students and educators who need
it most. This effort is a powerful example of what we can
accomplish when we come together, ensuring that every child has the
resources they need to continue learning, no matter the challenges
they face."
"Strong schools are the backbone of strong communities, and in
times of crisis, that connection is more important than ever. The
devastation from these wildfires has created immense challenges for
students, teachers, and families across our region, but thanks to
partners like Instacart and its Classroom Carts initiative, we are
mobilizing resources to help our schools recover," said
Erik Berg, Board President of
the Pasadena Educational Foundation. "By making it
easy for people to donate items directly to schools in need,
Instacart is helping ensure that students and teachers have the
materials they need to move forward. We are also extremely grateful
for the Instacart Board's charitable donation, which will allow us
to continue providing critical support to our schools as they
rebuild. This kind of collaboration reminds us of the power we have
when the community comes together in support of public
education."
Supporting quotes from school principals:
"For high school students, school is a place to learn, but also
where they find structure, friendships, and a sense of purpose as
they prepare for adulthood. The impact of the Palisades Fire on our
campus has been incredibly difficult, and while we are working
tirelessly to find a temporary home for our students, they need
support now," said Dr. Pam
Magee, Principal of Palisades Charter High School that was
badly damaged and forced to close due to the Palisades
Fire. "Instacart's Classroom Carts initiative is providing
an immediate way to help, helping make sure our teachers and
students have the essential supplies they need to continue
learning. The ability to access these resources will help us
maintain continuity in education, ease the burden on our families,
and remind our students that their community is standing behind
them. We are incredibly grateful for this partnership and for
Instacart's commitment to supporting schools during this
challenging time."
"Our school was more than just a campus. It was a second home
for our students, teachers, and families – a place where
creativity, exploration, and connection thrived. The loss of Aveson
has been devastating, but what gives us hope is the overwhelming
support from our community and partners like Instacart," said
Ian McFeat, Principal of
Aveson School of Leaders, a TK-5 elementary school that burned down
in the Eaton Fire. "Through its Classroom Carts initiative,
Instacart is using technology to provide immediate and tangible
support to our recovery efforts. The community can now help us
restock essential supplies, allowing our students and teachers to
resume learning and our team to start rebuilding what was
lost."
"Our entire community has been shaken by the devastation of
these wildfires – families, students, and teachers have lost their
homes, classrooms, and a sense of stability. Yet resilience is a
core value at Odyssey Charter Schools, and we've witnessed
incredible acts of kindness and support. Instacart's Classroom
Carts initiative is one of those efforts that can truly make a
difference," said Bonnie
Brimecombe, Principal of Odyssey South Charter School, a
TK-8 charter elementary school partially destroyed in the Eaton
Fire. "By crowdsourcing essential supplies through its
platform, Instacart is helping us take meaningful steps toward
recovery and helping to offer our students hope as they return to
learning. It's this type of collaboration between communities and
organizations that will allow us to move forward and ensure our
children have a safe place to learn, grow, and heal."
About Instacart
Instacart, the leading grocery
technology company in North
America, works with grocers and retailers to transform how
people shop. The company partners with more than 1,500 national,
regional, and local retail banners to facilitate online shopping,
delivery and pickup services from more than 85,000 stores across
North America on the Instacart
Marketplace. Instacart makes it possible for millions of people to
get the groceries they need from the retailers they love, and for
approximately 600,000 Instacart shoppers to earn by picking,
packing and delivering orders on their own flexible schedule. The
Instacart Platform offers retailers a suite of enterprise-grade
technology products and services to power their e-commerce
experiences, fulfill orders, digitize brick-and-mortar stores,
provide advertising services, and glean insights. With Instacart
Ads, thousands of CPG brands – from category leaders to emerging
brands – partner with the company to connect directly with
consumers online, right at the point of purchase. With Instacart
Health, the company is providing tools to increase nutrition
security, make healthy choices easier for consumers, and expand the
role that food can play in improving health outcomes. For more
information, visit www.instacart.com/company, and to start
shopping, visit www.instacart.com. Maplebear Inc. is the registered
corporate name of Instacart.
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SOURCE Maplebear Inc. dba Instacart
