Winn-Dixie Hunger Relief campaign under way
With one out of five children in America not knowing when they will eat their next meal, Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. has launched the Winn-Dixie Hunger Relief program in all Winn-Dixie stores during the holiday season. From Nov. 7 until Dec. 25, Winn-Dixie is asking its customers to help make a difference in one of two ways:
n By generously donating any amount they choose at the point of checkout though easy-to-use tear pads/scan sheets found at the register
n By purchasing specially-marked Winn-Dixie brand products, including water, coffee, diapers and condiments, whose manufacturers have generously donated to this program
All dollars raised by tear pads/scan sheets will go directly to local Feeding America-affiliated food banks, including the Harry Chapin Food Bank, which in turn will provide nutritious, fresh foods to people struggling with hunger. For every dollar donated, Winn-Dixie customers will help neighbors in need.
“No societal problem is more aligned with Winn-Dixie’s core business nor touches the hearts of our customers more than childhood hunger,” said Mary Kellmanson, Winn-Dixie SVP of Marketing. “Every child deserves a nutritious meal and a healthy start to life. The Winn-Dixie Hunger Relief program provides a simple but critical way for our communities to tackle this critical issue.”
“The Harry Chapin Food Bank is projected to distribute more than 15 million pounds of food this year as we continue working to meet the increased needs in our community,” said Joyce Jacobs, Associate Director of the Harry Chapin Food Bank. “Through this program, Winn-Dixie and its customers can have a profound effect on this critical issue, providing children the basic nutrition they need to face each day successfully.”
Regional food banks that will benefit from community donations include: Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida, Ft. Myers, FL.; All Faiths Food Bank, Sara-sota, FL.; Feeding American Tampa Bay, Tampa, FL.; Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, Orlando, FL.; Second Harvest North Florida, Jacksonville, FL.; America’s Second Harvest of the Big Bend, Inc., Tallahassee, FL.; Feeding South Florida, Pembroke Park, FL.; Community Food Bank of Central Alabama, Birmingham, Ala.; Montegom-ery Area Food Bank, Inc., Montgomery, Ala.; Bay Area Food Bank, Theodore, Ala; America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia, Inc., Savannah, Ga.; Feeding the Valley Food Bank, Columbus, Ga.; Second Harvest of South Georgia, Inc., Valdosta, Ga.; Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, Baton Rouge, La.; Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana, New Orleans, La. and Mississippi Food Network, Jackson, Miss.
Winn-Dixie and the Harry Chapin Food Bank are also asking customers to further the cause by helping spread the word through social media. Twitter users are encouraged to follow @WinnDixie and use the hash tag #Tweet2Eat when they donate in stores or share the cause with their followers. Follow Winn-Dixie on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news on donation efforts and updates.
About Harry Chapin Food Bank
The Harry Chapin Food Bank solicits, collects and stores quality food for distribution to families in need through a network of 160 nonprofit agencies in Lee, Collier, Hendry, Charlotte and Glades counties that provide food to more than 30,000 people monthly. Over 1 million pounds of food are distributed by the Harry Chapin Food Bank monthly. For every dollar donated, about $6 in food value goes back to the community. In the past fiscal year, the Harry Chapin Food Bank distributed more than 15 million pounds of food and other grocery items valued at more than $24.9 million. This is roughly the equivalent of 12.5 million meals to people in need.
About Winn-Dixie
Winn-Dixie is a subsidiary of BI-LO Holding, which is the ninth-largest traditional supermarket chain in the United States. Under the banner names of BI-LO and Winn-Dixie, the company employs 63,000 team members who serve customers in 689 grocery stores and 483 in-store pharmacies throughout the eight southeastern states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. BI-LO and Winn-Dixie are well-known and well-respected regional brands with deep heritages, strong neighborhood ties, proud histories of giving back, talented and loyal team members, and strong commitments to providing the best possible quality and value to customers. For more information, please visit www.bi-lo.com and www.winn-dixie.com.