JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Southeastern Grocers Inc. (SEG), parent company and home of Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, together with the SEG Gives Foundation, is donating more than 820,000 meals* to local Feeding America® network food banks to help alleviate food insecurity in underserved communities during Hunger Action Month®.
As families and individuals are confronted with impossible choices between food and other necessities, SEG and the SEG Gives Foundation will provide monetary contributions totaling $70,000 to seven Feeding America network food banks, and host seven mobile food pantry events throughout the Southeast, providing more than 150,000 pounds of fresh produce and shelf-stable products to local communities in need. These efforts will help ease the burden for those struggling to put food on the table, including the 13.5 million households who faced food insecurity last year.1
Raymond Rhee, Chief People Officer of Southeastern Grocers, said, “As a grocer, we believe it is our responsibility to help families put food on the table, and we are steadfastly committed to supporting and nourishing our local communities, especially when they need us most. Through our powerful partnership with Feeding America and its network of local food banks, we can touch the lives of thousands of families, children and individuals facing food insecurity as we take action in the fight against hunger this Hunger Action Month and beyond.”
Lauren Biedron, VP of Corporate Partnerships at Feeding America, said, “As millions of families struggle to put food on the table every day, we must take action and support our communities now more than ever. We are tremendously grateful to our long-standing partner, Southeastern Grocers, for their ongoing commitment to fighting hunger and creating a brighter future for our neighbors in need. We look forward to continuing our partnership and working together to provide nourishing meals this Hunger Action Month.”
To help thousands of families and individuals facing hunger, the grocer is partnering with local Feeding America network food banks to host mobile food pantry events throughout the Southeast in September:
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Jacksonville – two mobile food pantry events in partnership with Feeding Northeast Florida, and agency partners:
- Police Athletic League of Jacksonville (JaxPal).
- Living Stream Church to support Ukrainian refugees.
- Miami Gardens – in partnership with Feeding South Florida and Pisgah Pantry.
- Orlando – in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and Church In The Son.
- Panama City – in partnership with Feeding the Gulf Coast and Rebuild Bay County.
- Birmingham, Alabama – in partnership with Community Food Bank of Central Alabama and Faith Chapel.
- New Orleans – in partnership with Second Harvest of South Louisiana and Christian Fellowship Family Worship Center.
Feeding America’s Hunger Action Month is held every September and is dedicated to raising awareness of the hunger crisis nationwide. SEG has a long-standing partnership with Feeding America, and, last year alone, donated more than 18.6 million meals* to help alleviate hunger across the Southeast. Earlier this summer, the grocer donated $140,000 to seven Feeding America network food banks in support of its Summer Hunger initiative and an additional $100,000 as part of the grocer’s Break from Hunger program which provided low-cost, nutritious meals to children 17 and younger.
Community members in need are encouraged to contact their local participating food bank for more details on the September mobile pantry events and additional resources for ongoing support.
About Southeastern Grocers
Southeastern Grocers Inc. (SEG), parent company and home of Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, is one of the largest conventional supermarket companies in the U.S. SEG grocery stores, liquor stores and in-store pharmacies serve communities throughout the five southeastern states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie are well-known and well-respected regional brands with deep heritages, strong neighborhood ties, proud histories of giving back, talented and caring associates and strong commitments to providing the best possible quality and value to customers. For more information, visit www.frescoymas.com, www.harveyssupermarkets.com and www.winndixie.com.
About SEG Gives Foundation
SEG Gives Foundation is the charitable arm of Southeastern Grocers Inc. (SEG), parent company of Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie stores. The SEG Gives Foundation aligns giving with causes that are priorities to the communities SEG serves, including the fight against hunger, support for military service members and their families, relief to those affected by extreme weather and natural disasters and championing belonging, inclusion and diversity by combating social injustice to bridge the gap of inequities faced by many individuals, families and communities. Southeastern Grocers strives to be ingrained in its communities and, through the SEG Gives Foundation, better the lives of its customers and neighbors.
About Feeding America®
Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of more than 200 food banks, 21 statewide food bank associations, and over 60,000 partner agencies, food pantries and meal programs, we helped provide 6.6 billion meals to tens of millions of people in need last year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; brings attention to the social and systemic barriers that contribute to food insecurity in our nation; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
* $1 helps to provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America® on behalf of local member food banks.
1 According to a report released by U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (ERS).
