Grocery Continues Helping Communities During COVID-19 Pandemic

Well into the coronavirus outbreak and extended stay-at-home orders, the grocery sector continues to lend a hand to their communities and throughout the country.

Ahold Delhaize's The Giant Co. has stepped up in the fight against hunger during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this week pledging an additional donation of $250,000 to 18 local hunger relief organizations across its footprint. The most recent donation will aid food banks and food assistance nonprofits throughout Pennsylvania. It comes just a week after $250,000 was pledged to four local hunger relief organizations in Maryland and Pennsylvania and $50,000 each was donated to five different children's hospitals in those states. 

Brookshire Grocery Co., Price Chopper and Hannaford have been actively funding food banks across the states and regions they serve, while Schnuck Markets and Rouses Markets have been active in helping first responders and others directly effected by the coronavirus outbreak. 

In Iowa, Fareway Stores announced a $200,000 donation to the Iowa Chamber of Commerce Executives (ICCE) to provide for $1,000 to $2,000 in gift cards to employees of ICCE members in the communities that Fareway serves, including some communities outside of Iowa.

“ICCE’s members have the pulse in their communities on how to best serve their small business members during this time of need,” said Fareway President and CEO Reynolds Cramer. “We hope this donation helps small businesses and their employees that are facing challenges during this crisis.”

In New Jersey, Wakefern Food Corp., along with its cooperative members who own and operate stores across nine states, said it would donate $1 million to nearby area food banks to help meet the dramatic increase in demand for food and essentials during the COVID-19 pandemic. The donation will be divided among 30 food banks, across a nine-state trading area of supermarket banners such as ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace and The Fresh Grocer.

Keeping the same spirit alive, Southeastern Grocers this week surprised thousands of community heroes by paying for their groceries during a healthcare professionals and first responders shopping hour in all of its Bi-Lo, Fresco y Mas, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie stores. Meanwhile actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry surprised Winn-Dixie customers in his home state of Louisiana by paying for groceries of senior citizens.