The Kroger Co. has named 14,656 students across the country as Zero Heroes through its Zero Hunger, Zero Waste youth engagement program.
Students earned service awards for taking action during the 2023-24 school year to create communities free from hunger and waste and advance two of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals around zero hunger and responsible consumption and production, according to a news release.
This year, Zero Hero student award winners completed 107,175 volunteer hours, generating a community impact value of $3.5 million.
“We are inspired and energized by our 2023-2024 class of Zero Heroes. These bright students reflect the spirit of our Zero Hunger, Zero Waste mission, and we are grateful for their dedication and achievements in communities from coast to coast,” said Denise Osterhues, Kroger’s senior director of sustainability and social impact. “Their commitment to service is a great reminder that we can each make a big difference through everyday actions. By working together to fight hunger and waste, we can make a larger impact in our communities.”
The retailer created the youth engagement program in collaboration with InnerView, a platform to empower student volunteers, in 2019 to amplify service opportunities within its Zero Hunger, Zero Waste impact plan.
Through the Zero Hunger, Zero Waste youth engagement programs, students can earn awards and build a personal community service resume. Projects include volunteering at a soup kitchen, packing meals at a food bank and helping or organizing a food drive. The program is open to all students aged 14-24.
Since the 2019-20 school year, more than 46,425 youth Zero Heroes have completed a total of more than 365,0575 volunteer service hours, the release said. Their achievements generated a total community impact value of $10.8 million.
