Jacksonville, Florida-based Southeastern Grocers Inc. has donated $160,000 to eight Southeast food banks to help fight hunger during the summer months.
According to Feeding America, one in eight children across the U.S. may experience food insecurity, and millions of children count on school meal programs to provide their daily nutrition. However, during the summer break, many children lose access to these programs while school is not in session.
“With children at home during the summer months, the struggle to put enough food on the table for many families is often magnified,” Raymond Rhee, chief people officer for Southeastern Grocers, said in a statement.
“Through our donations to local food banks and our ongoing community hunger-relief initiatives, we are proud to support the tireless work of our regional partners to bridge the nutrition gap for our neighbors in need. We are dedicated to providing families with the nourishing food they need for a healthy life, and we remain committed to strengthening the communities we serve – today and every day.”
The five states Southeastern Grocers serves – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi – rank in the top 20 for highest child poverty rates in the country, with three states falling within the top 10.
The following local food banks will each receive a $20,000 donation from Southeastern Grocers to help fight hunger this summer:
- Brighter Bites – Southwest Florida;
- Community Food Bank of Central Alabama;
- Feeding Northeast Florida;
- Feeding South Florida;
- Feeding Tampa Bay;
- Feeding the Gulf Coast;
- Food Bank of Greater Baton Rouge; and
- Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.
The grocer annually gives back to local initiatives working with underserved communities. Last month, Southeastern Grocers gave $20,000 in groceries and other donations to New Orleans Community Fridges, a local mutual aid effort to provide free food to community members in need.
The retailer has also partnered through the years to give donations to support pediatric care facilities, military organizations, local schools and the American Red Cross, as well as raise funds during natural disasters.
Southeastern Grocers is also partnering with Pie in the Sky Community Alliance, through the end of the year, to deliver 100 cartons of fresh eggs each month to more than 550 seniors in St. Johns County, Florida. In 2022, the grocer and its foundation donated more than $700,000 and 14 million pounds of food to organizations combating hunger throughout the Southeast, including Feeding America network food banks.
In addition to shopping weekly specials, customers can use the grocer’s loyalty program with the Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie apps. The rewards program offers additional deals, digital coupons and points that can be redeemed for money off groceries. The program also provides points multipliers and personalized rewards offers, as well as the grocer’s new Big App Deal, which allows customers to score a free item or bonus points.
Through July 18, shoppers who activate the Big App Deal within the app will earn $5 in rewards points when purchasing SE Grocers Ground Coffee.
Through the grocer’s “Down Down” program in Winn-Dixie stores, customers can also save more than 15 percent on average when shopping items marked by the red hand on signs and tags throughout the store. Similarly, items marked in yellow and green signage at Fresco y Más and Harveys Supermarket are part of the “Low Price” and “Low Low Price” programs providing customers with additional discounts.
