Kroger Teams with the USO in "Honoring Our Heroes" Campaign

To show support for the nation's heroes—service members, their families and veterans—The Kroger Co. has launched a multi-faceted program to engage customers and honor our heroes all summer. The company also donated $1 million to the USO.

"Kroger is deeply grateful to our military men and women and their families for their selflessness, service and sacrifices," says Jessica Adelman, Kroger's group vice president of corporate affairs. "Whether through hiring returning service members, supporting the USO's programs or sharing a taste of home through special events, Kroger is committed to our troops and their families."

More than two million Americans serve on active duty or in the reserves today, including many Kroger family of stores associates. Kroger's "Honoring Our Heroes" program is designed to show Kroger's deep gratitude to active duty service members and the nation's 23 million veterans through the company's partnership with the USO.

Kroger's customers and associates have enthusiastically supported the endeavor, say company officials. Together, Kroger annual campaign has raised more than $14 million since 2010 to support USO programs, which represents the largest cumulative gift to the USO in its 75-year history.

To honor the nation's heroes, Kroger announced several easy ways for customers to participate this Memorial Day season and throughout the summer:

Kroger invites its customers to join forces with them to donate an additional $1 million to the USO by giving through register scan cards and coin boxes at every store or by donating online. All funds raised from customers will be additional to Kroger's $1 million commitment. Any size gift will help the USO continue its mission to keep service members connected to family, home and country throughout their service to our nation.

Customers may purchase special donation gift cards in $5, $10 and $15 denominations that will be delivered to USO centers around the world. In addition, shoppers can share their spirit with loved ones by purchasing patriotic banner gift cards to give as gifts, maybe to someone in the family who is (or was) a service member or someone in the community who is especially patriotic.

Kroger has hired more than 32,000 veterans since 2009, and the "Meet Our Heroes" section on Kroger's website highlights some of the many team members who have served in the military. Customers can visit HonoringOurHeroes.com to become inspired by Kroger's own associates' stories of courage, then write a special message of their own to America's heroes. By posting on social media channels using the #HonoringOurHeroes hashtag, the message will automatically show up on the official website. In addition, many of the messages will be broadcast on special digital outdoor billboards.

Treating troops and their families to a dinner together is a token of the company's appreciation for the many family dinners they missed while deployed. Kroger associates look forward to volunteering at three upcoming events:

With every click, The Coca-Cola Company will donate a refreshing Coke to the troops, up to 100,000, on Kroger's behalf. Consumers can use the hashtags #HonoringOurHeroes #USO #ShareaCoke to spread the message with their friends and followers.