This week’s roundup of charitable activities grocers are engaging in includes a restaurant week campaign payout in North Texas, a milestone sustainable seafood partnership in Florida, a scholarship investment in Chicago, a veterans round-up campaign in the Mid-Atlantic and a collegiate hunger challenge in North Carolina.
Market Street
Market Street stores raised $31,365.94 for two North Texas nonprofits through a DFW Restaurant Week donate-at-the-register campaign, presented alongside Audacy on Oct. 8. The North Texas
Food Bank and Lena Pope each received half the total raised at Market Street locations throughout the Metroplex. Customers could donate at checkout or purchase a DFW Restaurant Week coupon and recipe book featuring recipes from Market Street executive chef Matt Crowson. Celebrating 30 years, DFW Restaurant Week has raised close to $14 million for its charity partners.
“It’s a unique opportunity to bring our community together around local restaurants while also supporting organizations doing important work for our neighbors,” said Robert Bollinger, district manager for The United Family, Market Street’s Texas-based parent.
Publix
As it celebrates National Seafood Month, Publix is donating nearly $100,000 to Sustainable Fisheries Partnership in 2026, bringing its total contribution to the nonprofit to more than $1.2 million over their 16-year collaboration. The funds support projects including waved albatross bycatch research in eastern Pacific mahi-mahi fisheries, on-demand fishing gear maintenance to protect whales in Northeast lobster and crab fisheries, electronic monitoring on U.S. Gulf shrimp vessels and the Ocean Allies program recognizing responsible mahi-mahi fishers in Latin America.
“By working with suppliers to support fishery and aquaculture improvement efforts, we’re helping build a stronger, more sustainable seafood industry for the future,” said Guy Pizzuti, business development director of seafood at Publix.
Aldi
Aldi is investing an additional $1.5 million in Hope Chicago over the next three years, bringing its total support to more than $3.5 million since becoming a founding partner in 2022. Hope Chicago, 
the city’s only two-generation scholarship program, provides debt-free postsecondary education to students from five Chicago public high schools and their parents or guardians. The renewed commitment comes after the program’s first four-year Hope Scholars graduated in May and as a fifth cohort of families joins.
“What’s so powerful about Hope Chicago is that its impact extends beyond students to entire families, creating opportunity that can change lives over generations,” said Scott Patton, chief commercial officer of Aldi U.S.
Weis Markets
Weis Markets and Paralyzed Veterans of America have kicked off their annual four-week round-up campaign, running through Oct. 31 in the grocer’s seven-state service area. Customers can donate 
$1, $3 or $5 at the register or round up their total, with funds donated by the Weis Markets Charitable Foundation to support veterans living with spinal cord injuries and diseases, including MS and ALS. The partnership dates to 2016 and has included PVA’s Honor the Spot accessible-parking PSA, filmed at the grocer’s Brunswick, Maryland, store.
“We’re proud of our longstanding partnership with PVA, and incredibly grateful to our customers and associates who help us to make such an impactful contribution each year,” said Maria Rizzo, VP of marketing and advertising for Weis Markets.
Food Lion
Food Lion Feeds and North Carolina Campus Engagement have launched the 2026 North Carolina 
Collegiate Hunger Challenge, running Sept. 7-Dec. 18 at 12 colleges and universities. Each school is paired with a local Food Lion store to support student-led food drives, educational events and campus pantry efforts, with $25,000 to be awarded: $10,000 to the Grand Hunger Champion and $5,000 to each of three sector champions. Since 2019, the challenge has awarded more than $185,000.
“Students understand the needs on their campuses and bring creative ideas to help address them,” said Kevin Durkee, manager of Food Lion Feeds. “Together, we’re helping students access the food they need to learn, grow and succeed.”
Food Lion Feeds also has teamed with the Carolina Hurricanes to launch Stick It To Hunger, a season-long partnership that will help provide the equivalent of 50 meals for every Hurricanes shot on goal during the 2026-27 NHL regular season, up to 150,000 meals. Donations will benefit the Carolina Hurricanes Foundation’s efforts to support children’s health through access to nourishing food and nutritional education. The program joins the hunger-relief platform’s other sports initiatives, including Sack To Give Back and Score to Give More, with partners such as the Atlantic Coast Conference and Carolina Ascent Football Club.
Food Lion Feeds has provided more than 1.5 billion meals since 2014 and has committed to 3 billion by 2032.
Related: Grocers Give: Hunger Action Month Closes, Other Efforts Kick In