Kroger Awards $25,000 Sponsorship to the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore

May 14, 2018

Donation to provide more than 71,000 meals to food insecure children, seniors, and families

Norfolk, VA – The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore today announced a $25,000 sponsorship from Kroger Mid-Atlantic to support 71,429 children, seniors, and families struggling with hunger in the region.

“We are grateful for this generous contribution provided by Kroger, as it will support our summer initiatives during a time when we see a decline in donations and increased need,” said Ruth Jones Nichols, CEO of the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore. “Kroger has been a longtime supporter of the Foodbank, and we are grateful for their continued partnership in our efforts to eliminate hunger.”

Demonstrating its commitment to feeding the hungry, Kroger has established partnership with more than 80 local Feeding America partners. Further, in September 2017, Kroger launched its Zero Hunger, Zero Waste social impact initiative to end hunger in local communities and eliminate waste in their stores — and thereby helping to eliminate food insecurity.

The financial contribution is in addition to donations Kroger makes through its Perishable Donations Partnership (PDP), where safe, wholesome meat, produce, eggs and dairy products are donated to local food banks that have the capacity to safely handle and distribute fresh food. In FY2018 alone, Kroger Mid-Atlantic stores in Hampton Roads have donated 225,872 pounds of food to the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore.

“Kroger is committed to ending hunger in our communities and eliminating waste within our company by 2025,” said Allison McGee, corporate affairs manager for Kroger Mid-Atlantic. “We know there are a lot of changes happening with grocery stores in Hampton Roads and we’re thrilled to step in support the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore in this way. Kroger Mid-Atlantic has supported the fight against hunger in Hampton Roads since first entering the market in 2000, and we continue to look for additional ways to fight hunger as we grow in the area.

For more information on the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore or to donate, please visit www.foodbankonline.org.

About the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore

Serving 182,900 individuals annually, the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, a member of Feeding America® and the Federation of Virginia Food Banks, has been providing food for those facing hunger since 1981. Through fiscal year 2015, we have distributed over 246 million meals throughout our service area, which includes the cities of Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Franklin, and Virginia Beach as well as the counties of Southampton, Northampton, Sussex, Isle of Wight, and Accomack.

About Kroger Mid-Atlantic

The Mid-Atlantic Division operates 122 stores, 119 pharmacies and 93 fuel centers in Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio. Headquartered in Roanoke, the Mid-Atlantic Division is dedicated to making a difference in the communities it serves. As a part of The Kroger Company’s Zero Hunger Zero Waste initiative, the company is aiming to end hunger while eliminating food waste across the company by 2025. Kroger Mid-Atlantic also supports causes including women’s health, military troops and their families, in addition to local schools and other grassroots organizations. Kroger continues to be a strong supporter of the Salvation Army, American Red Cross and organizations that promote the advancement of women and minorities. Fortune magazine named Kroger the “most generous company in America” and The Reputation Institute ranked Kroger among the Top 100 of America’s Most Reputable Companies. For more information, visit www.kroger.com.