With Midwest communities facing unique hunger challenges, Meijer says it is committed to donating $4 million to food banks and pantries across the company’s six-state footprint through its Simply Give hunger relief program.
One element of this effort will be donations made to eight food banks with the size and infrastructure to impact a significant number of Midwest neighbors in need, according to the company. Those food bank partners include Dare to Care Foodbank in Louisville, Ky., Feeding America East Wisconsin, Feeding America West Michigan, Gleaners Community Foodbank of Southeast Michigan, Gleaners Community Foodbank of Indiana, Greater Chicago Food Depository, Greater Cleveland Food Bank and the Mid-Ohio Food Collective.
“We understand the communities we serve are facing unique challenges right now, and while we cannot solve them alone, that will not stop us from expanding our Simply Give hunger relief efforts to help our neighbors in need,” says Hank Meijer, executive chairman for Meijer. “We are humbled to be able to make these donations and know they will have a significant impact in the fight against hunger throughout the Midwest.”
Meijer says hunger relief is its lead philanthropic focus. Earlier this year, the company says its Simply Give hunger relief program reached the milestone of $100 million donated to food pantries since its inception in 2008.
Meijer customers interested in partnering with the retailer in the fight against hunger in their communities can add a $10 Simply Give donation card to their order during their next shopping trip. The cards are then converted into Meijer food-only gift cards and given to a local food pantry partner in the store’s community, the company says.
Additionally, from Nov. 23-29, Meijer says it will donate the equivalent of one meal to Simply Give food pantry partners for every customer who purchases Meijer brand, Frederik’s by Meijer, True Goodness by Meijer or Purple Cow food items. Up to 4 million meals will be donated to Simply Give food pantry partners due to this collective effort, the grocer says.
