Giant/Martin’s Anti-hunger Campaign ‘Bags’ $587K

Customers at Giant Food Stores and Martin’s Food Markets have donated $587,545 at checkout to support area hunger relief efforts through the Ahold USA banners’ “Bag Hunger” campaign, which ran Feb. 24 through March 9. This was the first of two in-store campaigns the chains hold annually; the second will take place during Hunger Action Month in September.

“Hunger is a reality for far too many, affecting one in six Americans,” noted Rick Herring, president. “We are thankful for the generosity of our customers, associates and vendors who donated to our recent Bag Hunger campaign. Together we can fight hunger in our local communities and assist our local neighbors in providing them with a nutritious meal.”

Among the campaign’s main recipient food banks are the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, Philabundance, Second Harvest Food Bank of Lehigh Valley, Food Bank of Western Maryland, Greater Berks County Food Bank, Water Street Rescue Mission in Lancaster, Food Resources of Washington County, Maryland, and the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank in Virginia.

Last year, hunger relief efforts accounted for about 40 percent of the banners’ community giving, with nearly 100 regional food banks and local pantries receiving $10 million in product and donations, including hundreds of thousands of pounds of food from Giant/Martin’s “Meat the Needs” and bakery food donation programs.

Based in Carlisle, Pa., Giant/Martin’s operates almost 200 grocery stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia under the Giant Food Stores and Martin’s Food Markets banners, employing more than 31,000 associates.