CINCINNATI, March 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger
Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation (the "Foundation") today
announced a $3 million commitment to
rapidly deploy hunger-relief resources to communities
disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19)
pandemic.
"Our most urgent mission is to be here for our customers when
they need us most, and our store, warehouse, distribution, food
production and office associates are working around the clock to
keep our stores open for our customers," said Keith Dailey, Kroger's group vice president of
corporate affairs. "We're also mindful that the coronavirus
pandemic may result in more of our neighbors struggling with food
insecurity during this challenging time – and we want to help. That
is why The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation is
directing $3 million, its largest
commitment to date, to rapidly deploy hunger-relief resources to
food-insecure communities across the country."
The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation's
$3 million commitment will be equally
distributed between the Foundation's nonprofit partners, Feeding
America and No Kid Hungry. The funding will not only support local
food banks nationwide, but also fund initiatives that ensure
children, whose schools may be closed, still have access to
nutritious meals.
"We appreciate The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste
Foundation's support of Feeding America's newly established
COVID-19 Response Fund," said Claire
Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America. "Kroger's
support enables food banks to secure the resources they need to
serve the most vulnerable members of our communities during this
difficult time."
"Nearly 22 million children rely on the meals they receive at
school," said Tom Nelson, president
and CEO of Share Our Strength, the organization behind the No Kid
Hungry campaign. "In partnership with The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger |
Zero Waste Foundation, No Kid Hungry is actively funding emergency
grants to food banks and nonprofit groups in the hardest-hit
communities, helping families know how to find meals while schools
are closed and ensuring every child has access to three meals a
day."
Kroger and its affiliates also continue to donate food and funds
to local food banks and hunger-relief efforts.
The Kroger Family of Companies is making it easy for customers
to support The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation's
mission to create communities free of hunger and waste by choosing
to roundup their purchases to the nearest dollar at every
self-checkout lane in America or donate at
ZeroHungerZeroWasteFoundation.org.
Kroger and its affiliates are also encouraging direct giving to
local hunger-relief organizations.
About The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste
Foundation
The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero
Waste Foundation (the "Foundation") is a 501(c)(3) public
charity founded in 2018. The Foundation was formed to support
initiatives that create communities free of hunger and waste.
About The Kroger Co.
At The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), we are Fresh for Everyone™
and dedicated to our Purpose: To Feed the Human
Spirit®. We are, across our family of companies, nearly
half a million associates who serve over 11 million customers daily
through a seamless shopping experience under a variety
of banner names. We are committed to creating
#ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities by 2025. To learn more about us,
visit our newsroom and investor relations site.
About Feeding America
Feeding America® is
the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of 200 food
banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, we provide meals
to more than 40 million people each year. Feeding America also
supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security
among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of
hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from
going hungry. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us
on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
About No Kid Hungry
No child should go hungry in
America. But 1 in 7 kids will face hunger this year. No Kid Hungry
is ending childhood hunger through effective programs that provide
kids with the food they need. This is a problem we know how to
solve. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of Share Our Strength, an
organization working to end hunger and poverty. Join us
at NoKidHungry.org.
View original content to download
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-kroger-co-zero-hunger--zero-waste-foundation-commits-3-million-to-help-combat-food-insecurity-during-pandemic-301024889.html
SOURCE The Kroger Co.