(Toronto, November 24, 2011)—Canadian retailer The Bargain! Shop is using an environmental awareness initiative to support their leading charitable partner, Easter Seals Canada, and to continue their support of families and communities across Canada.

The Bargain! Shop encourages their customers to bring their own reusable bags to stores as a means to reduce the number of plastic bags used at the checkout. Customers wishing to use plastic bags can purchase them, in participating retail locations.  Beginning November 2011, The Bargain! Shop will be donating the net proceeds from each bag purchased to Easter Seals, The Bargain! Shop’s national charitable partner.

“The Bargain! Shop is proud of this initiative as it marries our philanthropic mandate with our corporate social responsibility efforts,” said Tracey Mikita, Vice President, Human Resources, The Bargain! Shop. “We believe this program will result in fewer bags going to landfills which supports our commitment to reducing our impact on the environment.   We’ll use the net proceeds of this program to support initiatives for Canadians with disabilities at the same time.”

Since 2005, the Bargain! Shop has raised over $1 Million for charitable organizations with $810,304 of those dollars going directly to Easter Seals.   In 2011 $152,805 was raised nationwide, making it Easter Seals’ top national contributor in its Paper Egg fundraising campaign. The company has held this distinction since 2007 when it first became involved with the cause.

“We’re always thrilled to see our corporate partners strategize new ways to support our programs and services,” said Max Beck, CEO, Easter Seals Canada. “The Bargain! Shop has shown tremendous creativity in using an existing program to drive new revenue for Easter Seals. Their continued support will mean that we can do more to support people with disabilities in communities across Canada each year.”

While it’s unclear how much the shopping bag program will raise in its first year, both parties are confident it will add considerable dollars to The Bargain! Shop’s fundraising total and raise continued awareness of Easter Seals and its programs.