Grocers Support Food Banks, Communities Amid SNAP Benefits Pause

As the U.S. prepares for the upcoming SNAP reduction taking place on Nov. 1 due to the federal government shutdown, grocers around the country are committing money and food to nonprofits to help combat hunger.

To provide resources to grocers that may have questions, FMI – The Food Industry Association has launched a new webpage that will serve as a guide on the current SNAP funding situation amid the federal government shutdown. This page includes information clarifying the use of remaining October benefits and the status of November benefits; actions states are taking to fund SNAP and links to their respective Departments of Health and Human Services which administer SNAP at the state level; and the latest public-facing communications from FMI on SNAP.

“As an industry that serves families in every community in America, we know firsthand how essential federal hunger and nutrition programs like SNAP and WIC are to customers experiencing difficult times and to the overall stability of our food system. When one leg of the stool that the government committed to provide is removed, it doesn’t just affect customers’ ability to feed their families; it also impacts store scheduling of employees, supplier orders and staffing, and the tax base of local economies across the country,” said FMI Chief Public Policy Officer Jennifer Hatcher.

“We appreciate the efforts many states have made to try to provide short-term funding solutions in this time of need, and we’re proud of the way retailers and suppliers continue to support their communities during this period of uncertainty through donation programs and working with neighborhood groups. However, long-term stability for SNAP and WIC and vulnerable families requires the restoration of the federal commitment to these programs. We once again urge Congress to act immediately to restore government funding, provide clarity and food for families in need, and ensure that these vital programs remain dependable for those who have to rely on them to get them through a difficult time.”

Here are some of the way that grocers are helping their local communities:

Fareway

Iowa-based Fareway has begun a month-long initiative throughout November to support those facing food insecurity.

How customers can participate:

Pre-Bagged Donations: Customers can purchase pre-bagged, SNAP-eligible food items at any location. These bags will be distributed to local food banks or pantries near each store.
Individual Item Donations: Shoppers may also choose to donate individual food items of their choice.
Monetary Contributions: Every Fareway check stand will accept donations, with every dollar going toward purchasing food products for nearby food banks or pantries.

Fareway will match all monetary contributions in value throughout November.

Food Lion

To help support the increased demand at food banks in its operating area, the Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation is donating $1 million to support local food banks.

From Nov. 1-4, North Carolina-based Food Lion will activate a Food Bank Fund through the Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation. Customers can join this effort by donating at the register in any Food Lion store. Funds raised during this time will support local food banks and their efforts to respond to needs within the community.

Since its inception in 2001, the foundation has distributed nearly $23 million across its 10-state operating area.

Other ways the grocer is helping include:

Holidays Without Hunger campaign – From Nov. 5-Dec. 9, customers can purchase and donate a $6 Food Lion Feeds holiday food box. Each store will donate the boxes to local Feeding America partner food banks or feeding agencies in its community. Customers can also round up their purchases or donate at checkout, with 100 percent of contributions supporting local feeding agencies.
Veterans Day discount – On Nov. 11, Food Lion will honor active-duty military personnel and veterans with a 10 percent discount, recognizing their service and dedication to our communities.
MVP Fall Haul – Through Nov. 26, customers can earn a $20 coupon by shopping six times and spending at least $50 per trip with their personal MVP card.
Everyday savings – The MVP Savings Card gives customers access to weekly deals and personalized discounts on items they buy most. With the Shop & Earn Program, customers can activate monthly offers and earn more savings in-store and through Food Lion To Go.

Hy-Vee

With food banks preparing to see a record number of families over the coming weeks, Iowa-based Hy-Vee will be providing multiple community support options at all store locations.

From Nov. 3-7, every Hy-Vee store with hot food service will provide a free kids meal to those ages 12 and under from 4-7 p.m. The same meal will be available to everyone else for $3 and will be offered for dine in or to go.

Hy-Vee will offer $5 and $10 food bank donation bundles for customers to purchase for donation. The bags will include items most needed by food pantries, including canned vegetables, pasta sauce, canned proteins and cereal. Stores will deliver any purchased bags to their local food pantry daily to help manage the projected increase in need.

“We want to support the communities that support our stores, which is why we are doing everything we can to make sure no one goes hungry during these uncertain times,” said Anna Stoermer, EVP, chief merchandising and retail officer, Hy-Vee. “We are grateful for the suppliers and partners who have joined us to help feed families in need.”

Suppliers participating in Hy-Vee’s efforts include Acadian Crossing Consumer Products, Dole, Pillsbury, ProHealth, StarKist Tuna and SUNSET Mastronardi.

Meijer

Michigan-based Meijer will donate $4 million to food banks and pantries across its six-state footprint through its Simply Give hunger relief program.

Donations will be made to eight food banks with the size and infrastructure to help a significant number in need. Those food bank partners include Dare to Care Foodbank (Louisville, Kentucky), Feeding America East Wisconsin, Feeding America West Michigan, Gleaners Community Foodbank of Southeast Michigan, Gleaners Community Foodbank of Indiana, Greater Chicago Food Depository, Greater Cleveland Food Bank and the Mid-Ohio Food Collective.

“We understand the communities we serve are facing unique challenges right now, and while we cannot solve them alone, that will not stop us from expanding our Simply Give hunger relief efforts to help our neighbors in need,” said Hank Meijer, executive chairman.

“We are humbled to be able to make these donations and know they will have a significant impact in the fight against hunger throughout the Midwest.”

Hunger relief is the retailer’s lead philanthropic focus. Earlier this year, its Simply Give hunger relief program reached the milestone of $100 million donated to food pantries since its inception in 2008.

Customers interested in partnering with the retailer can add a $10 Simply Give donation card to their order during their next shopping trip. The cards are then converted into Meijer food-only gift cards and given to a local food pantry partner in the store’s community.

Additionally, from Nov. 23-29, Meijer will donate the equivalent of one meal to Simply Give food pantry partners for every customer who purchases Meijer brand, Frederik’s by Meijer, True Goodness by Meijer or Purple Cow food items. Up to 4 million meals will be donated to Simply Give food pantry partners.

The Save Mart Companies

The Save Mart Companies have launched the “Right By You” Affordability Promise, a comprehensive initiative designed to deliver relief to families in the communities they serve.

“When families tell us they’re choosing between groceries or gas, between meat on the table or medicine in the cabinet, we can’t shrug and say ‘that’s inflation,’” said Jim Perkins, president of California-based The Save Mart Companies.

“That’s what ‘Right By You’ is all about – 12 programs, food bank matching funds and community investment. We’re meeting people where they are with solutions that actually help.”

The initiative includes 12 programs across two themes – Food Affordability and Food Access. Key components include a food bank matching funds initiative, holiday meals under $6 per person, 50 percent off select meat and produce events, expanded Flashfood availability, free November grocery delivery and military discounts.

Food Affordability

50 percent off select meat and produce event (Oct. 29-Nov. 4): Discounts on select proteins and fresh produce will be offered at the company’s Save Mart and Lucky stores, with additional sales planned throughout November and beyond.
Holiday essentials pricing: Guaranteed low prices on Thanksgiving staples across all banners, with deals launching Oct. 29 (turkeys) and Oct. 31 (multiple additional items).
Meat line launch: A new private-label line of 100 percent natural beef, poultry and pork – minimally processed with no artificial ingredients – offering families proteins at prices that make healthy eating accessible, even as meat costs continue to rise.
Holiday meal program: A complete Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people – under $6 per person at Save Mart and Lucky and under $5 per person at FoodMaxx. Includes turkey, potatoes, vegetables, cranberry sauce, gravy, rolls and pie. The program will be extended to Christmas with similar offerings.
Military discount: Active service members, with valid identification, can receive a 10 percent discount at all Save Mart, Lucky and FoodMaxx locations on Veterans Day, and then a 10 percent discount at Save Mart and Lucky, and a 5 percent discount at all FoodMaxx locations, every following Monday during November. Some exclusions apply.

Food Access

“Friends Feeding Friends” Campaign (Nov. 5-Jan. 1): Shoppers can purchase $5 or $10 Pantry Packs at checkout to support local food banks, with 100 percent of donations staying in the communities where they’re raised. The Save Mart Companies will also be partnering with Keurig Dr Pepper to contribute up to $120,000 in matching funds in support of the program. The first food distribution will reach families before Christmas.
DoorDash Emergency Food Response Program: Through DoorDash’s nationwide emergency initiative, The Save Mart Companies will offer free delivery and waived service fees for SNAP recipients.
Free Home Delivery: The Save Mart Companies will offer free home delivery of grocery items bought from each of their banner e-commerce sites through the remainder of 2025. Minimum spend of $35. Service fees still apply.
“Buy Now, Pay Later”: The Save Mart Companies will offer a “Buy Now, Pay Later” option at checkout on all banners’ e-commerce sites through third-party providers. Subject to credit approval and provider terms.
Flashfood Partnership: Up to 50 percent off food nearing its “sell by/best by” date, now available in all Lucky stores and 11 Save Mart stores in Modesto. Discount and availability vary by location and item.

Schnucks Markets

Through Nov. 11, Missouri-based Schnuck Markets Inc. is hosting a food drive at all 113 stores to support local food banks and pantries as demand grows due to SNAP benefits being paused because of the ongoing federal government shutdown.

Customers will be able to donate food items by purchasing them and then placing them in the donation barrels/bins that will be located in each store.

The company also will continue to work with long-time community partners such as United Way, Urban League and The Salvation Army to help get food to those in need.

Southeastern Grocers

Florida-based Southeastern Grocers (SEG) and the SEG Gives Foundation are donating $100,000 to Feeding America to help provide more than 1 million meals to families in need.

To strengthen its impact, Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket are launching an in-store donation program beginning Nov. 1, inviting customers to donate $1, $5 or rounding up their grocery total at checkout to help local food banks. Every contribution will support Feeding America and Feeding America partner food banks.

In addition, SEG is introducing special offers and employee initiatives to provide immediate relief.

From Nov. 5-30, Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket are offering a Family Meal Deal for rewards customers. Available for $14.99 (regularly up to $26.45), customers can choose from a 10-piece fried chicken, 10-piece baked chicken or four leg quarters meal – each served with six biscuits and three SE Grocers prepackaged 1-pound deli sides of their choice, including coleslaw, baked beans, macaroni salad or potato salad. For the savings to apply, all five items must be included in the same transaction, and the customer must be enrolled in Winn-Dixie Rewards or Harveys Supermarket Rewards. Limit one meal deal per transaction.

Additionally, SEG will issue a store credit to every Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket. Each store will donate $500 in products or gift cards to a local hunger-relief organization of their choice.

The Fresh Market

From Nov. 1-Dec. 31, customers shopping at all North Carolina-based The Fresh Market locations will have the opportunity to round up their total at the register or make a donation of their choice. Every $1 donated helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local partner food banks. One hundred percent of funds collected will go to the nonprofit, with 90 percent redistributed to local partner food banks and 10 percent to the Feeding America national organization.

In addition to the current roundup fundraiser, The Fresh Market regularly donates unsold food to local Feeding America partner food banks. This effort helps alleviate the impact of food insecurity and supports Feeding America’s overall mission to end hunger in America.

Tops Friendly Markets

In response to the recent pause in SNAP benefits, New York-based Tops Friendly Markets is launching its 21st Annual Food 2 Families campaign earlier than usual to help ensure that no one in the community goes hungry. The campaign will provide support to FeedMore WNY and surrounding food pantries throughout the region.

The grocer will also hold a donation campaign from Nov. 1-Dec. 24. Donations of Little Brown Bags of Hope can be made in $5, $10 and $20 increments or customers can round up their transaction. Additionally, donations can be made online at topsneighborshelpingneighbors.com to support a family in their community. Customers can even select the food bank their donation will support. These Little Brown Bags are filled with nutritious items that can help a family stretch a meal further.

Tops will hold a one-day food drive Dec. 5 where the grocer will be joined by its media partner, WGRZ-TV Channel 2, as well as FeedMore WNY’s staff and volunteers. The grocer will accept donations at several stores, including Lockport, Tonawanda, Amherst, Depew, Hamburg and Buffalo.

Tops also recently launched its annual Christmas Bonus, helping shoppers save more than $20 million on groceries, gas and gifts.