Giant and Martin's Customers Help Fight Hunger by Raising $587,000

Customers at Giant Food Stores and Martin's Food Markets recently donated $587,545 at the checkout to support local hunger relief efforts through the grocers’ Bag Hunger campaign, which ran February 24 through March 9. This is the first of two in-store Bag Hunger campaigns GIANT and MARTIN’S conducts annually; the second will coincide with September’s Hunger Action Month. “Hunger is a reality for far too many, affecting 1 in 6 Americans,” says Rick Herring, president. “We are thankful for the generosity of our customers, associates and vendors who donated to our recent Bag Hunger campaign. Together we can fight hunger in our local communities and assist our local neighbors in providing them with a nutritious meal.” Major recipient food banks include the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, Philabundance, Second Harvest Food Bank of Lehigh Valley, Food Bank of Western Maryland, Greater Berks County Food Bank, Water Street Rescue Mission in Lancaster, Food Resources of Washington County, Maryland, and the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank in Virginia. In 2012, hunger relief efforts and donations to regional food banks accounted for approximately 40% of GIANT/MARTIN’S community giving with nearly 100 regional food banks and local pantries receiving $10 million in product, customer, vendor, and corporate donations. This donation also includes hundreds of thousands of pounds of food from GIANT/MARTIN’S “Meat the Needs” and bakery food donation programs. The company freezes meat and provides bakery items that would otherwise go unsold in their stores and donates it to regional food bank partners to assist struggling families.