CHAINS AID SOUTHEAST TORNADO VICTIMS

BRENDA LLOYD

ATLANTA (FNS) -- Major supermarket chains across the Southeast have joined forces with the American Red Cross and other organizations to provide disaster relief to victims of the tornadoes that devastated parts of Alabama and Georgia in the past few weeks.

The chains, including Publix Super Markets, Bruno's, Kroger Co., A&P and Ingles Markets, said their stores survived the storms with little or no damage, but their customers were not so fortunate.

The storms are blamed for several deaths and numerous injuries, and left hundreds of families either homeless or without electricity.

Jennifer Bush, a spokeswoman for Publix Super Markets, Lakeland, Fla., said three of the Atlanta division's approximately 80 stores were affected. Two sustained minor damage that was quickly repaired and the third was forced onto backup generator power for a brief period.

Bush said the chain's Atlanta division has launched a fund-raising campaign, along with the local CBS affiliate, to benefit the American Red Cross. The campaign, which runs through Saturday, gives shoppers the opportunity to add contributions to their grocery bills.

Bruno's, Birmingham, Ala., also has an ongoing effort tied with a Fox television affiliate that benefits the local Red Cross, which has requested nonperishable food items, batteries and baby supplies.

A company spokeswoman said Bruno's has parked trucks at five store locations where consumers can drop off the needed items. In addition, 28 other Bruno's stores have set up drop boxes to collect food and dry goods for the tornado victims. As of last week, Bruno's delivered more than 40,000 pounds of items to the Red Cross.

Bruno's has also set up an internal relief fund to help the 11 Bruno's employees who "lost their homes and everything they own," she said. Bruno's will also be providing discount coupons to tornado victims as they begin to set up their households again, the spokeswoman said. None of the Bruno's stores were damaged by the storms.

The day after announcing that it had presented a check for $100,000 to the Atlanta chapter of the American Red Cross, Kroger Co., Cincinnati, began another "round-up" program to help victims of tornadoes.

In the program, customers can round up their grocery bills to the nearest dollar, with the extra change going to the Red Cross.

Kmart, Troy, Mich., said it will make a $30,000 cash donation to Red Cross efforts in the two states and work with local military personnel in Hinesville, Ga., to distribute donated products, including blankets, water and batteries.

Ingles Markets, Black Mountain, N.C., and A&P, Montvale, N.J., which operate stores in the affected areas, said they are currently engaged in disaster-relief efforts as well.