Albertsons Cos., with the Albertsons Companies Foundation, is celebrating 10 years and $297 million raised for its Nourishing Neighbors charitable program dedicated to fighting hunger, according to a news release.
To mark the achievement on June 6, or “Nourishing Neighbors Day,” the Boise, Idaho-based company private-label brand, O Organics, is donating $7 million — the equivalent of 28 million meals — to the program as part of the brand’s Fight Hunger, Serve Hope initiative to combat hunger during the summer months and after-school hours, when school-aged children face higher rates of food insecurity. This is the second consecutive year the private-label brand has made such a donation.
Albertsons says the donation will fund grants dedicated to enhancing school breakfasts, providing weekend breakfast food, backpack programs with food to take home, summer breakfast meals and other breakfast-related programs for at-risk youth throughout the summer and after-school hours.
The Nourishing Neighbors program says it will award an additional $30,000 in grants — $1,000 a day throughout June 30 — to nonprofits with the most compelling social media posts.
“In the last 10 years, Nourishing Neighbors has played a pivotal role in tackling the challenge of food insecurity, a complex issue affecting more than 13.5 million American households,” said Jennifer Saenz, executive vice president of pharmacy and e-commerce for Albertsons Cos. and board chair for Albertsons Companies Foundation. “Our commitment as a company has never wavered, and thanks to the incredible generosity of our customers, we’ve donated over one billion meals and partnered with 1,400 nonprofits to end hunger in our local communities. I look forward to the impact we will have over the next 10 years.”
Now through June 30, grant recipients are encouraged to share their stories on any social media channel tagging #NourishingNeighbors, @OOrganics and their local Albertsons Cos. banner store celebrating the O Organics grant and showing how their organization is using the funds, the release said.
“In this landmark year for Nourishing Neighbors, we are so thankful for each one of our loyal customers who have donated at the register across every Albertsons Cos. store,” said Christy Duncan Anderson, president and executive director of the Albertsons Companies Foundation. “These donations have funded grants and innovative programs over 10 years to raise awareness and support for Americans who continually struggle with where their next meal is coming from. Together, we’re sowing seeds of hope and nourishment, one story, one donation and one meal at a time.”
Nourishing Neighbors is a charitable program of Albertsons Companies Foundation and seeks to ensure at-risk children, adults, seniors and families have access to the food they need to thrive.
During the month of May, Albertsons says Nourishing Neighbors raised more than $5 million through customer donations made at the register across every Albertsons Cos. store. Since the program’s inception in 2014, Nourishing Neighbors (formerly Hunger Is) has raised more than $297 million for thousands of nonprofit organizations that are on the front lines of combatting hunger in America.
