Stater Bros. to Help Feed the Hungry

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif., Nov. 11, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Stater Bros. Supermarkets, in conjunction with its charitable arm Stater Bros. Charities, will be "Harvesting Hope" in Southern California communities. The 2nd Annual "Harvesting Hope in our Community" program will provide food and funding throughout the months of November and December to assist with hunger relief efforts in the communities where Stater Bros. customers and employees live and work.

Stater Bros. Charities will present over $450,000 in cash donations to over 100 Southern California food banks and self-help organizations. These funds were collected through the Stater Bros. Charities Customers Care Program at every check stand. Customers and employees participate in this year-round program by donating their loose change or by purchasing Scannable Donation Cards while paying for their groceries.

All 167 Stater Bros. Supermarkets have food barrels in place to collect nonperishable food items for struggling families.

All 167 Stater Bros. Supermarkets are accepting additional cash donations at each check stand for allocation to food banks in the summer of 2011 when food reserves are traditionally low. Customers can donate loose change in the "Harvesting Hope" Donation Canisters or purchase $10 "Harvesting Hope" Scannable Donation Cards.

"Many of our hard working customers have exhausted their money and are being forced to stand in food lines. Stater Bros. is going to help in the best way we know how by keeping our prices low and helping our food banks get a big boost for the holiday season," said Jack H. Brown, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Stater Bros. Supermarkets.

The Stater Bros. "Harvesting Hope in our Community" campaign winds up Stater Bros. year-long efforts to support nonprofit organizations in the communities it serves.

Each year, Stater Bros. contributes over $15 million to assist those in need, with an emphasis on worthy programs that benefit hunger relief, health and nutrition, education, and animal shelters.

Stater Bros. also donates over 3 million pounds of food annually and products to the local food banks.

"During these tough times ... we will not let our customers stand alone," added Brown.