Hy-Vee targets food deserts resulting from unrest in Twin Cities
Grocery donation campaign gets under way at Minneapolis/St. Paul stores
June 15, 2020
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Hy-Vee has launched a donation campaign and “Stuff-A-Truck” event at all of its Twin Cities stores to provide food and essential supplies to local organizations and food banks in response to the recent unrest in the area.
Through Sunday, Hy-Vee shoppers can donate any dollar amount when paying at checkout. Proceeds from the campaign, along with a supply commitment from Hy-Vee, will be used to buy groceries and other items that will go toward filling at least 11 semi-trucks, the company said. The supplies then will be donated to Hallie Q. Brown Community Center and its coalition partners to benefit people in need throughout the Minneapolis and St. Paul community.
“By working with our customers and suppliers toward one common goal, we can make real progress in creating change within our communities,” Hy-Vee Chairman, CEO and President Randy Edeker said in a statement. “We are committed to promoting racial unity and equality for all. One way we can help do that is by taking care of areas that are currently food deserts so no one ever has to think about going hungry.”
As an extension of the donation effort, all 11 Hy-Vee grocery stores in Minneapolis/St. Paul will host a Stuff-A-Truck event running from June 19 to June 21. During the event, customers can purchase $5 or $10 bags of groceries and essential items for donation, which will be added to the trucks.
Hy-Vee said additional truckloads of supplies will be donated by some of its supplier partners, including Bertolli Olive Oil, Blue Bunny, Campbell’s, Chobani, Coca-Cola, Energizer, Frito-Lay, Gatorade, General Mills, Hormel Foods, Kellogg’s, Kimberly-Clark, McCormick & Co., Nestle, PepsiCo, SC Johnson, Smithfield Foods, Tyson Foods and Unilever. Plans call for all donations to be delivered to Hallie Q. Brown Community Center on June 23.
West Des Moines, Iowa-based Hy-Vee, which has more than 260 in eight Midwestern states, added that the campaign is part of its companywide commitment to supporting racial unity and equality. Last week, the company said it will donate $1 million and commit to providing 1 million volunteer hours to groups supporting social justice.