JACKSONVILLE, FL - Every day, more and more from our industry continue to step up to help those in need—and Southeastern Grocers (SEG) is no stranger to giving back. Together with the SEG Gives Foundation, the grocery giant announced a donation of nearly 258,000 $5 hunger relief bags to Feeding America®. The more than $1.28 million worth of food will help provide meals to neighbors throughout the Southeast who are facing hunger due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are grateful for the giving hearts of our customers and associates who recognize the needs in our communities and are able to make an impact in meaningful ways,” Anthony Hucker, President and CEO of Southeastern Grocers, said. “With this donation, we are providing support to our local food pantries, nourishment to individuals in need, and providing hope to our neighbors during these difficult times. As a community, we are stronger together.”
According to the press release, the donation was made possible through generous customer and associate donations received during Southeastern Grocers’ in-store hunger relief program that ended May 15. The program gave customers the opportunity to help neighbors in need by purchasing a contactless $5 hunger relief bag filled with essential food items.
Southeastern Grocers has a longstanding partnership with Feeding America and the communities it serves. In addition to this donation of more than $1.28 million worth of shelf-stable food, the SEG Gives Foundation donated $250,000 to Feeding America in March to help its network of food banks urgently provide much-needed support to people currently facing hunger. Throughout the partnership, Southeastern Grocers has donated millions of meals to neighbors in need as part of the grocer’s continued efforts to alleviate hunger across the Southeast.
“The Feeding America network of food banks serves children, families, and seniors who are facing hunger every day, but right now the need is at an all-time high,” Lauren Biedron, Vice President of Corporate Partnerships at Feeding America, commented. “We are so very thankful for the donation from Southeastern Grocers and its customers. With this donation, we will have the opportunity to help provide more food to our neighbors across the U.S.”
Along with donations from customers and associates, PepsiCo also made a generous contribution of $25,000, totaling in 5,000 hunger relief bags that will be provided to Feeding America member food banks.
All contactless hunger relief bags will be fulfilled directly from the Southeastern Grocers warehouse and delivered to local food banks throughout the communities where the donations were made to directly benefit each generous customer’s local neighbors in need.
“We are honored to support Southeastern Grocers on this campaign to help alleviate hunger in the communities we serve,” stated Rich Panner, Vice President of PepsiCo Beverages North America, South Division.
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