Albertsons Companies Thanks Customers for Generous Donations to Nourishing Neighbors Childhood Hunger Relief

By: Albertsons Companies via Business Wire

October 28, 2021 at 11:00 AM EDT

Customers donated over $9 million at checkstands in September to enable 37 million healthy breakfasts

Thanks to the generosity of customers, the Albertsons Companies’ Nourishing Neighbors breakfast campaign raised over $9 million through its September campaign to provide healthy breakfasts for children in need across the company’s market areas. The funds were raised at the register and will be directed to local organizations in each store’s community. The money will enable 37 million breakfasts for children throughout the country.

“We are grateful to our generous customers who have joined us in the fight against hunger,” said Christy Duncan Anderson, President and Executive Director of Albertsons Companies Foundation. “Nourishing Neighbors, together with our partner charities and generous customers, is making a difference for our community members who face food insecurity daily. With school back in session, we know how important it is that every child in our neighborhoods has a healthy start to their day.”

The donations were made at checkstands at Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Star Market, Tom Thumb, Randalls, ACME, and other Albertsons Cos. stores. Each store partnered with a local charity to provide healthy breakfasts for children in their community. 100 percent of the funds raised will be given to partner organizations that further the mission of Nourishing Neighbors.

The following are comments from some of the grant recipients of the Nourishing Neighbors Breakfast for kids campaign:

Northern Illinois Food Bank: “We are grateful to Jewel-Osco and our community members who donated through the Nourishing Neighbors Breakfast Campaign for supporting our mission,” said Jessica Willis, manager of Northern Illinois Food Bank’s Child Nutrition Program. “Last year, we distributed more than one million meals to children throughout Northern Illinois. Jewel-Osco’s Nourishing Neighbors campaign will help us to fill weekend backpacks with the nutritious breakfast foods children need to grow and thrive.”

Alameda County Community Food Bank: “Alameda County Community Food Bank — Feeding America’s 2016-2017 Food Bank of the Year – has been at the forefront of hunger relief efforts in the Bay Area since 1985. The Food Bank serves 1 in 4 Alameda County residents by distributing food through a network of 420+ food pantries, soup kitchens, and other community organizations. Because of partners like the Safeway Foundation, the food bank is also able to provide direct-distribution programs to families including Children’s Backpack and Mobile Pantry that includes key breakfast items that positively impacts the wellness and academic readiness of school-aged children. – Juan Francisco Orozco, Corporate & Foundation Relations Manager”

Hunger Free Vermont: "Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. This is especially true for our students as they ready themselves to learn at school. When your children eat school breakfast, it is good for kids, schools and communities! We are truly grateful to Shaw's Foundation for once again helping us to keep our universal and after-the-bell breakfast initiatives strong! - Anore Horton, Executive Director of Hunger Free Vermont"

Food Bank of the Rockies, Colorado: "Eight-year-old Serenity is both a Totes of Hope™ helper and recipient. She and her older brother signed up for the program last year after their mom, Katie, got laid off from her job. Thanks to the support from Safeway through the Nourishing Neighbors campaign to provide breakfast for kids, Serenity and her brother are able to receive staples for breakfast including dry cereal, milk, applesauce, and fresh produce when available. They are also given pasta, rice, beans, and tuna to help with lunch and dinner on the weekends. - Justin Petrochko, Director of Community Engagement, Food Bank of the Rockies"

Nourishing Neighbors is a charitable program of Albertsons Companies Foundation. The program aims to eradicate hunger in America. In 2020, Nourishing Neighbors enabled 350 million meals, invested $10.4 million in schools to feed kids, and provided $9 million towards empowering BIPOC communities through hunger programs.

Albertsons Cos. set a year-long giving record in 2020 with $260 million in food and monetary donations to hunger relief agencies and food banks. For more information about Albertsons Cos.’ commitment to hunger relief, please visit here.

About Albertsons Companies

Albertsons Companies is a leading food and drug retailer that operates stores across 34 states and the District of Columbia with more than 20 well-known banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen, Carrs, Kings Food Markets and Balducci's Food Lovers Market. The Company is committed to helping people across the country live better lives by making a meaningful difference, neighborhood by neighborhood.