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Hy-Vee targets food deserts resulting from unrest in Twin Cities

Grocery donation campaign gets under way at Minneapolis/St. Paul stores

Russell Redman

June 15, 2020

2 Min Read
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As an extension of the campaign, all Hy-Vee grocery stores in Minneapolis/St. Paul will host a Stuff-A-Truck event this weekend to donate bags of groceries.Hy-Vee

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.

Related:Grocery retailers take stand against racism

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.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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