Associated Food Stores Donates Care Kits for 75th Anniversary

Associated Food Stores (AFS) donated 750 personal care kits to Volunteers of America Homeless Youth Resource Center to honor AFS’ 75th anniversary.

The kits contain basic hygiene items like hand sanitizer, soap, toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant and a comb in a drawstring backpack. Teenagers make up about 7 percent of Utah’s homeless population and about one thousand people between the ages of 18 and 24 are homeless in the state, according to the Utah Comprehensive Report on Homelessness.

"It's surprising to learn how many teens, young kids in my eyes -- are experiencing the harshness of homelessness each day," said Neal Berube, CEO of AFS. "Helping Utah's homeless youth is incredibly humbling and a good reminder that we can all do something to help our neighbors in need." 

AFS supplies more than 500 independent grocers throughout the Intermountain West from its warehouse in Salt Lake City. In 1940, 34 independent retailers joined together to form AFS and combat high supplier costs. Since then, the company has added a retail division, operating 42 stores under the Macey’s, Dan’s, Dick’s, Lin’s and Fresh Market banners.