Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta and Charles Reichert, owner of several
Suffolk County IGA markets, announce the donation of Five Cent Bag Fee to local
Hospitals
They
encourage other retailers to also donate the 5 cent fee
(Fort Salonga, NY)… Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta and Charlie
Reichert, owner of several Suffolk County IGA markets announced that Mr.
Riechert will donate the five cent bag fee from his Fort Salonga and East
Northport IGAs to Huntington Hospital. In addition, the bag fee collected at
his Greenport and Southold stores will go to Eastern Long Island Hospital in
Greenport. “This idea came to me when
people were complaining about charging a nickel for a plastic bag and that the
money was going back to the retailer. I asked what they thought if the money
went to a local charity and everyone liked the idea so that is what I am
doing,” said Charlie Reichert, owner of five IGA stores. “As a local
businessman, I think it is so important to give back to the community where you
do business,” added Mr. Reichert. According to Mr. Reichert, “Instead of a
retailer, like me, keeping the bag fee, it is my contention that we should
donate it to a worthwhile organization that provides programs and services that
benefit the residents of Suffolk County.”
“This is a terrific program and
I encourage other retailers to donate the five cent bag fee to a local charity
or community program,” said Legislator Trotta who represents the district where
the Reicherts live and where two of his stores are located. “I have known
Charlie and his family for a long time and I applaud him for coming up with
this idea as he is known for always giving back to the communities where his
stores are located,” added Trotta.
“I am reaching out to Shop Rite, Stop & Shop, CVS, Walgreens,
Target, Walmart, Ace Hardware and other
stores to see it they will support local
charities with their bag fee. Furthermore, if a member of the community has a
serious illness than a fund like this might help the family,” said Legislator
Trotta. “I think businesses can better
spend the money than government and I don’t want government officials sticking
their hands into this money. I have no faith in the way county government would
spend this money. In my four years as a Legislator, I have seen enough wasteful
spending for a lifetime,” stated Trotta.
Legislator Trotta and Charlie Reichert hope that other retailers will
join in this endeavor and support their local charities and/or institutions.
At the Fort Salonga IGA market are from left: Charles Reichert, owner
of the IGAs, Ryan Ceriello, Fort Salonga IGA manager, and Suffolk County
Legislator Rob Trotta, with a mock check payable to “Merchant’s Favorite
Charity,” which was printed by Dawn of Signarama of Huntington Station.