Last updated on August 7th, 2024
The Giant Company has announced the return of its fourth annual Feeding School Kids initiative.
Through March 31, customers at Giant, Martin’s and Giant Heirloom Market stores can round up their grocery purchases to the nearest dollar or convert their choice points into a donation for their local public schools’ food programs.
“When children are hungry it can impact their academic success, which is why we partnered with our local public school districts to address and to help eliminate childhood hunger in our communities,” said Jessica Groves, community impact manager for The Giant Company.
“Over the past three years, together with our customers and team members, we have raised more than $6 million through Feeding School Kids to help support hunger relief efforts both at school and at home. This year we are excited to extend the initiative an extra month for schools to raise even more needed funds.”
This year, The Giant Company will donate $100,000 to the program. Through the Feeding School Kids initiative, school districts have been able to support meal programs and address food insecurity from supplying backpacks with weekend food to clearing outstanding student lunch debt, as well as building on-campus food pantries and establishing garden programs.
For example, the Frederick County School District and Winchester School District in Virginia provided weekend food packs for more than 1,300 students and during the summer supported more than 2,900 students, while the Norristown School District in Pennsylvania distributed 10,000 meal boxes in the summer containing five breakfasts and five lunches in each box.
York Suburban School District in Pennsylvania restocked its pantry to double its service to 175 families, and the Jefferson County School District in West Virginia purchased kitchen equipment to improve the meals served.
“The donations we receive from The Giant Company have gone directly to our Summer Meal Distribution Program,” said David Ludwig, director of food services at Norristown Area School District.
“We have converted a school bus we now call the ‘Nest Express’ to meet our students and families in our community parks. During our summer program we distribute 35,000 breakfasts and 35,000 lunches, reaching 1,000 students each week. This would not be possible without the district receiving grant funds and donations from organizations like The Giant Company. Partnering with The Giant Company has proven to be a great benefit for our students and families in the Norristown Area School District.”
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