Zero Waste Foundation today announced it provided a $1 million retail agency capacity grant to Feeding America® to support four food banks across the U.S. The Food Bank of Eastern Michigan (Flint, MI), Houston Food Bank (Houston, TX), Mid-South Food Bank (Memphis, TN), and the Atlanta Community Food Bank (Atlanta, GA) are all beneficiaries of this capacity-building grant.
“Kroger is a longstanding partner with more than 200 local food banks in our shared mission to eliminate hunger in our communities,” said Keith Dailey, group vice president of corporate affairs and chief sustainability officer for Kroger. “This grant will further support Feeding America’s network of food banks and food rescue organizations in local communities so that we can continue making progress toward our bold goal to end hunger and eliminate food waste across America.”
The grants will empower food banks and agencies to increase the number of weekly food pickups through new equipment like refrigerated vans, freezers and forklifts, and added resources like staffing, training and new technology. The grant will also support retail rescue programs by building agency supporters’ capacity to conduct direct pick-ups and improve equitable access to nutritious food.
“Kroger’s support goes beyond financial commitment. It helps to power a whole system of people and resources that are crucial in the movement to end hunger,” said Erika Thiem, Feeding America’s Chief Supply Chain Officer. “Kroger’s lasting collaboration with Feeding America means people facing hunger have more access to the food and resources they need to thrive.”
In recognition of Kroger’s grant to Feeding America, the company’s Atlanta, Houston, Michigan and Tennessee divisions will celebrate with a day of volunteering and service. Associates in each of these divisions will sort, organize and pack meals for their communities this month.
Kroger launched its Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation in 2018 to support nonprofit organizations, social entrepreneurs and creative thinkers who are focused on improving food security, ending food waste and more. In 2022, Kroger directed $336 million to communities in food and funds, providing nearly 600 million meals and other essential support.