Nickels ---the bottom dwelling, easily forgotten, dull-colored coin found stuck to your car's coffee-stained drink holder have a new job: saving local farmlands.

Every time a Markets' shopper brings in a reusable shopping bag, or bags (the new staple of grocery store chic), the store either rebates a nickel to shoppers, or they can choose to donate the coin to a local nonprofit.

Although this might not seem like much, The Market at Anacortes has already racked up $7,366 --amounting to 147,320 nickels! This means that in the three years since the program's inception, shoppers decreased waste by over 147,000 plastic bags, reducing the region's carbon footprint by 24,464 kg of carbon dioxide. Not bad for a five-cent piece.

The Market at Anacortes has surpassed the company's expectations, recently donating $1,189.05 to the nonprofit Skagitonians to Preserve Farmlands. Christy Tingstad, Assistant Store Manager, said customers love the idea of being green while shopping. "Many customers are adamant about the program, asking "Did you make sure to donate my nickel?'" Tingstad said it's a perfect fit for the Anacortes community and helps give back to the environment.

Skagitonians to Preserve Farmlands, or SPF, is a nonprofit that operates as a land trust and advocate for farmland protection, helping preserve the very landscape that fills grocery store shelves with a bounty of fresh, local produce.

There's no end-date in sight for The Markets' nickel rebate program, so the next time you're out grocery shopping, bring your bag, give a nickel, and preserve the environment. For more information about SPF and their work, visit Skagitonians.org and to learn about your carbon footprint, visit Timeforchange.org