The Save Mart Companies’ annual “Friends Feeding Friends” holiday food drive has begun at all Save Mart, Lucky and FoodMaxx stores in California and Western Nevada.
The drive supports community food banks and pantries during the holiday season and runs through Dec. 31. The Save Mart Companies CARES Foundation also will make a matching cash donation to area food banks, up to $20,000.
“Our community food banks and local food pantries play an invaluable role in alleviating food insecurity in the neighborhoods we serve. Our ‘Friends Feeding Friends’ food drive provides our stores and valued shoppers the opportunity to positively support our neighbors in need during the holidays,” said Donovan Ford, SVP and chief operations officer at The Save Mart Companies.
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There are two ways to donate to the holiday food drive. When shopping at their local Save Mart, Lucky or FoodMaxx store, customers can purchase a bag filled with grocery essentials for $15 or $25 at checkout. They can also select a “virtual” bag donation at the end of their online shopping experience. Either form of purchase is added to the shopper’s total grocery bill, and the tax-deductible contribution is noted on the receipt.
“With food insecurity rates similar to the early days of the pandemic, supporting local food banks is critically important,” said Stacia Levenfeld, CEO of the California Association of Food Banks.
“On behalf of food banks across the state, I want to thank The Save Mart Companies for their leadership in fighting hunger in our communities. A matching donation from The CARES Foundation will have a marked impact on our food banks’ being able to provide food for their neighbors.”
