As part of its’ “Helping Communities Make It” hunger-relief programming, US Foods Holding Corp. is giving Feeding America $750,000 to expand the organization’s Direct to Neighbor locker project to seven additional communities by year’s end. It is the company’s largest single monetary donation to date.
“With more than 44 million Americans, including 13 million children, facing food insecurity in the United States, we are honored to support Feeding America in their journey to bring innovative solutions for combating food insecurity to communities across the country,” said Dave Flitman, US Foods CEO.
“This new commitment builds on the more than $12 million in product donations that US Foods provided to Feeding America food banks in 2023. Hunger Action Month is a time to recognize the hunger crisis in America and take action, and we are proud to leverage the opportunity to expand this important partnership.”
The Feeding America Direct to Neighbor locker project provides more convenient hunger-relief support. Implemented through food bank affiliates, the program uses an online order-ahead platform where community members can place customized grocery orders. The custom requests are prepared by the local partner food bank or agency partner and made available for pick-up in refrigerated, frozen or non-temperature-controlled lockers that can be placed in local grocery stores and other locations.
The order and pickup process offers greater choice and convenience, not unlike that offered by traditional online grocery shopping applications, and is intended to help remove emotional hurdles that may hinder someone in need from taking part in a traditional food bank experience.
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“Everyone deserves dignified access to nutritious food to thrive. In collaboration with local partner food banks and alongside people facing hunger, we prioritize dignity so we can transform the charitable food system together,” said Casey Marsh, Feeding America Chief Development Officer.
“The Direct to Neighbor lockers are an example of our work to design a more equitable and convenient neighbor experience that not only expands their choice of foods but also removes some of the emotional hurdles to accessing food. As a fellow Chicago-based company, US Foods has demonstrated a strong commitment to our cause, and we are thrilled to be expanding this exciting project with their generous donation.”
Joined by Chicago-based celebrity chef Stephanie Izard and dozens of US Foods employees, the company and Feeding America launched their enhanced partnership at the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, formally announcing the seven grant recipients. They are:
- Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, Fox Valley Technical College;
- Feeding Tampa Bay, Sulfur Springs Resource Center;
- Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, Helping Hands Food Pantry;
- Lowcountry Food Bank, North Strand Helping Hand food pantry (South Carolina);
- Northern Illinois Food Bank, Northwest Center and Neighborhood Market;
- Second Harvest Food Bank of Clark, Champaign, and Logan Counties, food bank locations (Ohio); and
- Treasure Coast Food Bank, Whole Child Connection, benefits enrollment and social service referral community hub (Florida).
“It’s an honor to help put a spotlight on the impactful hunger-relief efforts Feeding America and US Foods are supporting,” Izard said.
“Hunger relief is a cause that is near and dear to my heart as I have seen firsthand how important it is to have the right community programs in place to help those who are facing food insecurity. I’m thankful for the opportunity to help build awareness around this innovative work spearheaded by two Chicago-based organizations.”
