Kroger, Brookshire’s, Hy-Vee bolster support for Uvalde community

The Kroger Co., Brookshire Grocery Co. and Hy-Vee are generating support for the Uvalde, Texas, community following the May 24 shooting at the Robb Elementary School.

Cincinnati-based Kroger said its Houston and Dallas divisions, Kroger Delivery and The Kroger Co. Foundation have committed $300,000 to support the victims, families and others affected by the shooting, in which 21 people were killed.

Kroger shoppers in Texas also can support the Uvalde community via in-store purchases. The Dallas and Houston divisions have teamed up with The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation to enable shoppers to donate to the Community Foundation of Texas Hill Country Uvalde Strong Fund in all 200-plus stores in Texas.  Effective May 27, customers can round up their purchase to the nearest dollar or contribute $1, $5 or $10 to support in Uvalde relief efforts. Donations to coin boxes at all registers also will go to benefit the Uvalde community.  

Brookshire Grocery Co. has launched a donate-at-the-register campaign to support the Uvalde community. (Imaged courtesy of Brookshire)

The Kroger Co. Foundation has pledged $200,000 to the Community Foundation of Texas Hill Country Uvalde Strong Fund for the Robb Elementary School victims and their families. Kroger Delivery is working with community partner San Antonio Food Bank to donate about $100,000 in nonperishable food items and other products via the food bank’s summer program. Kroger said the company and the food bank, which serves the Uvalde community, will ensure families impacted by the shooting will receive food deliveries to support them during this time of grief.

Related:H-E-B supports Uvalde community with $500,000 in aid after school shooting

“My heart is broken by the recent tragedy in Uvalde, Texas.  Such a senseless act of violence has no place in our community or our world,” Kroger Houston Division President Laura Gump said in a statement. “As a mother and someone who grew up in a close-knit community in Texas, my heart goes out to families impacted and the entire Uvalde community touched by this tragedy. During times like this, it’s important for us to lean on each other for support, and Kroger is here to contribute to our neighbors as they grieve, and we encourage our customers to offer their support as well during this difficult time.”

Meanwhile, Tyler, Texas-based Brookshire Grocery has kicked off a campaign that enables customers to donate to the families and community affected by the school shooting in Uvalde. Through June 4, all Brookshire’s, Super 1 Foods, Spring Market and Fresh by Brookshire’s stores will have $1, $3 and $5 coupons available at checkout for shoppers to make monetary donations. The donations will go to the Robb School Memorial Fund opened at the First State Bank of Uvalde.

Related:In aftermath of shooting, Tops creates survivors fund

As stated on their Facebook pages, the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District and parent/teacher organization said they are working with First State Bank of Uvalde “to ensure funds are spent in the most responsible and effective way possible. As funeral expenses are covered, priorities are medical expenses and counseling, and ensuring that’s available long term to all.”

Overall, Brookshire operates more than 200 stores in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma under the Brookshire’s, Super 1 Foods, Fresh by Brookshire’s, Spring Market and Reasor’s banners, along with three distribution centers.

Midwestern grocer Hy-Vee, too, is providing support to the Uvalde community. The West Des Moines, Iowa-based company said it has donated $100,000 to the victims’ families and others impacted by the shooting at the Robb Elementary School. The funds were donated to the Spirit of Giving Fund, established by Texas grocer H-E-B to provide immediate financial support to individuals and communities impacted by natural disasters and other tragedies.

“Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the Uvalde community,” stated Randy Edeker, chairman and CEO of Hy-Vee. “When discussing how we could best support those affected, we knew our friends at H-E-B were already on the ground helping families. Through their Spirit of Giving Fund, we know our donation will go toward providing meals, supplies, crisis counselors, financial assistance to families and other community efforts. We also know others want to help during this time, so that’s why we believe it’s important to bring awareness to this fund.”

H-E-B started the Spirit of Giving Fund to aid communities devastated by Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Since then, the fund has been activated to help with other emergencies, such as the shooting that killed 26 people at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, and now the tragedy in Uvalde. Donations of up to $250 can be made at www.heb.com/donate as well as by mail (checks sent to Spirit of Giving Fund, 646 South Flores St., San Antonio, TX 78204).

“Hy-Vee’s $100,000 donation is one of the largest donations we have received so far in response to this tragedy, and we are extremely grateful to Hy-Vee and its employees for thinking of those who are hurting in Texas,” H-E-B President Craig Boyan said in a statement. “It is our hope that H‑E‑B’s on-site and financial support will assist during this difficult situation. We thank our neighbors to the north for thinking of our local communities in Texas during this time.”

H-E-B said last week it has committed $500,000 to help Texans affected by the shooting at the Robb Elementary School and launched a customer donation campaign, among other support. Two teachers and 19 children were killed and 17 other people were wounded when a lone gunman entered the school and began shooting. A Border Patrol tactical unit responded to the scene, and one of its agents shot and killed the suspect, identified as 18-year-old Salvador Ramos.