US Foods Holding Corp., a foodservice distributor, is donating approximately $250,000 of food to help the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Chicago’s food bank, bring pop-up food pantries to communities of color on Chicago’s South and West Sides. These areas have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, longtime food insecurity and recent civil unrest.
“In this unprecedented time, we know too many Chicago families are struggling to access fresh, healthy food,” said Pietro Satriano, US Foods chairman and CEO. “We’re proud to play a part in helping the Food Depository bring additional pop-up food pantries to communities with an urgent need for food.”
“We’re so immensely grateful for the support from US Foods as we work to expand food access in black and brown communities in Chicago that have been devastated by the combination of COVID-19 and food insecurity,” said Kate Maehr, executive director and CEO of the Food Depository. “These pop-up food pantries will provide a critical lifeline to the community at a time when the soaring need for food assistance is unlike anything we’ve ever seen before.”
Each pop-up food pantry aims to serve about 1,000 households weekly with boxes of nonperishable food weighing between 20 and 30 pounds, as well as fresh produce and frozen meat.
In addition to product donations to the Food Depository, US Foods has donated more than $10 million in food and supplies to food banks and charitable organizations across the country since the beginning of March to aid in the response to COVID-19.
US Foods has more than 70 broadline locations and 76 cash and carry stores. It is headquartered in Rosemont, Illinois.
US Foods Holding Corp. recently entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Smart Foodservice Warehouse Stores. See story here.