Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons Cos., along with the Albertsons Cos. Foundation, observed June 6 as “Nourishing Neighbors Day.”
To commemorate the occasion, the foundation announced the recipients of three multiyear Nourishing Neighbors spark grants totaling $9 million to nonprofits that are spearheading programs designed to create long-term solutions for moving people out of food insecurity.
“Our grocery stores, including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Shaw’s, Jewel-Osco and Tom Thumb, have a long-standing history of donating money, fresh food and pantry staples to area food banks, soup kitchens, community fridges and more to help ensure our neighbors in need have access to a nutritious meal,” said Susan Morris, chief operations officer for Albertsons Cos. and board chair for its foundation.
“While regular food distribution is an important and critical part of addressing hunger, we developed these grants so we can advance our efforts further by supporting organizations that are at the forefront of empowering individuals and families to achieve lasting food security.”
The following nonprofits were selected by Albertsons for one of the $3 million grants:
- Share our Strength works to end hunger and poverty through its No Kid Hungry campaign and other programs. With the Nourishing Neighbors grant, it will design and fund a program to help single mothers break the cycle of poverty through career coaching, stipends for food, housing and childcare, counseling support and tax services.
- United Way Bay Area mobilizes a network of community partners to respond to food insecurity by collaborating across sectors including nonprofits and government agencies to address both short-term essential human needs and advocate for long-term systemic changes. The Nourishing Neighbors grant will fund a pilot program with 100 low-income families in Alameda County by 2027. Families will receive customized financial coaching and monthly stipends as part of an immersive and innovative community-based program to help the most marginalized communities break through the cycle of poverty and hunger.
- FIND Food Bank is a regional food bank in Southern California feeding an average of 150,000 people each month through its network of 150 distribution sites and more than 80 community-based partners. The food bank will use its grant to create a program that addresses food insecurity and its root causes to end hunger.
“By declaring June 6 as Nourishing Neighbors Day, our goal is to raise continued awareness and support for Americans who continually struggle with where their next meal is coming from,” said Christy Duncan Anderson, president and executive director for the foundation. “Thanks to the incredible generosity of our customers, the Nourishing Neighbors program is able to help millions of people gain access to a nutritious meal.”
Nourishing Neighbors debuted a PSA campaign last month to inspire communities to learn how they can get involved and help millions of Americans who are food insecure. The campaign, which emphasizes that “everyone should be welcome at the table,” appears nationally across media platforms including TV, radio, digital, print and a Times Square digital billboard in New York City.
For more information on Nourishing Neighbors, click here.
To read more information on Albertsons Cos. from The Shelby Report, click here.
