Leading Nonprofits Join Albertsons Companies Foundation in a First-of-Its-Kind Initiative to Tackle Summer Hunger Among Children in the U.S.
June 12 2024 - 9:00AM
Business Wire
Coalition will raise awareness for the USDA’s
new Summer EBT grocery benefits program
The Albertsons Companies Foundation today announced the launch
of a new collective effort focused on addressing childhood hunger
this summer. By bringing together a coalition of leading nonprofit
organizations, the first-of-its-kind initiative aims to drive
awareness and boost participation in the United States Department
of Agriculture’s (USDA) new Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer for
Children Program (Summer EBT), also known as SUN Bucks.
“Childhood hunger is a complex problem that requires partners
from across the food system to come together and collaborate,” said
Christy Duncan Anderson, President and Executive Director of
Albertsons Companies Foundation. “Through the collective knowledge,
expertise and extensive network of prominent nonprofits and the
Albertsons Companies Foundation, we aim to connect with a greater
number of families than we could individually.”
For the millions of kids who rely on free or reduced-priced
meals at school, summer can mean a lack of access to nutritious
food. To help combat this, the USDA has launched Summer EBT, a new
program available in 37 states, all five U.S. territories, and two
Tribes. The program will provide grocery benefits to low-income
families with school-aged children during the summer months when
school is out. Eligible families in participating states will
receive $120 per eligible school-aged child to purchase
groceries.
“We have advocated for the creation of a summer EBT program like
SUN Bucks for more than a decade and we are thrilled that this
program will be available to families facing food insecurity this
summer,” said Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America.
“Working alongside people facing hunger and partners like
Albertsons Companies Foundation, we will make a real impact on
summer hunger and lay the groundwork for more states to participate
next year.”
The Albertsons Companies Foundation’s Nourishing Neighbors
program together with an Advisory Group of leading players across
the food system will work together to ensure as many families as
possible benefit from the program in this critical first year. The
Advisory Group is comprised of representatives from Feeding
America®, Food Research & Action Center, Gift Card Bank, Hunger
Free America, mRelief, No Kid Hungry, Partnership for a Healthier
America, and WhyHunger. This group reaches more than 200 foodbanks,
500 school districts and community organizations, and over 1500
partner organizations across the country.
“Summer is the hungriest time of the year for the millions of
children who rely on school meals, and the rising costs of
groceries means families are feeling the pinch even more,” added
Anne Filipic, CEO of Share Our Strength, the organization behind
the No Kid Hungry campaign. “We believe that by joining Albertsons
Companies Foundation and their partners, together we can get one
step closer to ensuring every single child in America has the food
they need to grow up healthy and strong.”
Through a surround-sound approach designed to reach parents and
caregivers online and, in their communities, the initiative aims to
ensure families have access to the information they need to learn
how they can benefit from this new program.
In addition, the coalition launched a new website,
SummerEBT.org, which gives families a simple, fast way to check if
they are eligible and connect to their state sign-up site. For
families that live in states that are not participating, the site
directs them to other food resources, such as the USDA Summer Meals
program, and enables them write to their elected representatives
encouraging their state’s participation next summer.
About Nourishing Neighbors
Nourishing Neighbors is the signature cause platform of the
Albertsons Companies Foundation operating under 17 banners
including Safeway, Albertsons, ACME, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s and Vons.
The program is dedicated to ensuring that at-risk children, adults,
seniors and families have access to nutritious food needed to
thrive. In 2023, along with the Albertsons Companies Foundation,
the Company contributed more than $350 million in food and
financial support, including more than $35 million through our
Nourishing Neighbors Program to ensure those living in our
communities and those impacted by disasters have enough to eat. The
Foundation is committed to enabling the donation of one billion
meals by 2030 and actively championing innovative programs and
partnerships to help break the cycle of hunger in the neighborhoods
we serve.
About Albertsons Companies
Albertsons Companies is a leading food and drug retailer in the
United States. As of February 24, 2024, the Company operated 2,269
retail stores with 1,725 pharmacies, 402 associated fuel centers,
22 dedicated distribution centers and 19 manufacturing facilities.
The Company operates stores across 34 states and the District of
Columbia under 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.
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