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CONTACT: David Peterson – (734) 844-2775
david.peterson@meijer.com
MEIJER TO PROVIDE FRESH PRODUCE, MEAT AND DAIRY ITEMS TO HELP FEED INDIANA’S HUNGRY
Fresh Products Expand Menu Of Offerings Provided To Indianapolis Area Food Banks
GRAND RAPIDS, MI (October 21, 2010) – With Indiana’s poverty rate at 14.4 percent – and one in five Hoosier children living in poverty – Meijer, the Michigan-based grocer, is stepping up its efforts to not only feed the hungry this year, but to offer healthier, fresher choices for those in need.
Entering its first full year of donating to Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, Meijer announced today that it will supplement its typical dry goods donations by now supplying fresh produce, meat, dairy and deli items to the local food rescue organization. Previously, Meijer has worked with the Indianapolis Colts on the “Sack Hunger” food drive that has benefited Gleaners since 2006.
Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana is the leading source of emergency food assistance in the region. The 30-year-old food rescue program distributed more than 24 million pounds of food last year to member charities throughout 21 central and southeastern Indiana counties. In total, 161,000 local residents last year benefited from donations made to the organization. Nearly 43% of the families served had children under the age of 18.
“No one should go to bed hungry, and those that are fortunate to find help from local pantries and food banks should be given the opportunity eat fresh, nutritious and healthy food,” said Janet Emerson, executive vice president of operations for Meijer. “The food rescue model has changed, and we’re proud to be taking the lead in providing healthy offerings to those who rely on food banks for their meals.”
Ten Indianapolis area Meijer stores take part in the food rescue program with the local food bank. Since it began working with the local food rescue organization in August, Meijer has donated more than 11,000 pounds of food that was eventually distributed to nearly 400 hunger relief programs.
Among the fresh items that Meijer will begin donating to the local food rescue organization include packaged ready-to-eat lunch and breakfast meats and cheeses, ground beef, pork and veal, fresh pizzas and bakery goods, as well as Meijer brand water, juice boxes and snacks.
Helping to combat hunger has been a primary focus of Meijer’s for many years. The company annually donates millions of pounds of food to local food banks and pantries, and has also generated nearly $1.4 million in donations to local food banks through its Simply Give program.
Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana.
More than 160,000 Hoosiers are not hungry today because Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana provides food and critical groceries to hunger relief charities. A member of Feeding America (formerly America's Second Harvest), Gleaners was established in 1980. Since then the food bank has distributed more than a quarter billion pounds of food and critical grocery products to over 400 hunger relief programs serving Hoosiers in need in 21 central and southeastern Indiana counties. To learn more, log onto www.gleaners.org.
About Meijer
Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates 195 stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky. As the inventor of the “one-stop shopping” concept, Meijer stores have evolved through the years to include expanded fresh produce and meat departments, as well as pharmacies, comprehensive electronics departments, garden centers and apparel offerings. Additional information on Meijer and the ability to shop for more can be found at www.meijer.com.
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