Kroger Joins USO in 'Honoring Our Heroes'
To show support for service members, their families and veterans, The Kroger Co. is donating $1 million as part of a multifaceted program to engage customers and honor America’s heroes all summer.
"Kroger is deeply grateful to our military men and women and their families for their selflessness, service and sacrifices," said Jessica Adelman, Kroger's group VP of corporate affairs. "Whether through hiring returning service members, supporting the USO's programs or sharing a taste of home through special events, Kroger is committed to our troops and their families."
More than 20 million Americans serve on active duty or in the reserves today, including many associates at Kroger banners nationwide. Kroger's Honoring Our Heroes program is designed to show Kroger's deep gratitude to active-duty service members and the nation's 23 million veterans through the company's partnership with the USO.
Kroger's customers and associates have enthusiastically supported the endeavor: Together, Kroger’s annual campaign has raised more than $14 million since 2010 to support USO programs, which represents the largest cumulative gift to the USO in its 75-year history.
How shoppers can help
To honor America’s heroes, Kroger offers several easy ways for customers to participate this Memorial Day season and throughout the summer:
- Help Raise an Additional $1 Million for the Troops
Kroger invites its customers to join forces with them to donate an additional $1 million to the USO by giving through register scan cards and coin boxes at every store or by donating online at HonoringOurHeroes.com. All funds raised from customers will be additional to Kroger's $1 million commitment. Any size gift will help the USO continue its mission to keep service members connected to family, home and country throughout their service to our nation.
- Gift Card Donations
Customers may purchase special donation gift cards in $5, $10 and $15 denominations that will be delivered to USO centers around the world. In addition, shoppers can share their spirit with loved ones by purchasing patriotic banner gift cards to give as gifts, maybe to someone in the family who is (or was) a service member or someone in the community who is especially patriotic.
- Meet Our Heroes
Kroger has hired more than 32,000 veterans since 2009, and the "Meet Our Heroes" section on Kroger's website highlights some of the many team members who have served in the military. Customers can visit HonoringOurHeroes.com to become inspired by Kroger's own associates' stories of courage, then write a special message of their own to America's heroes. By posting on social media channels using the #HonoringOurHeroes hashtag, the message will automatically show up on the official website. In addition, many of the messages will be broadcast on special digital outdoor billboards.
- A Summer to Remember
Treating troops and their families to a dinner together is a token of the company's appreciation for the many family dinners they missed while deployed. Kroger associates look forward to volunteering at three upcoming events:
On May 24, they joined the USO to serve lunch and dinner to 1,000 service members at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson in Anchorage. On June 3, they will join the USO to host a beachside BBQ for 1,000 veterans, active duty soldiers and their families in Virginia Beach as part of Warrior Week. On June 7, they will join the USO to host a rib roast at Ft. Riley, Kan., for 1,000 military families as they celebrate Victory Week, the anniversary of their base.
- Share a Coke
With every click, The Coca-Cola Co. will donate a Coke to the troops, up to 100,000, on Kroger's behalf. Consumers can use the hashtags #HonoringOurHeroes #USO #ShareaCoke to spread the message with their friends and followers.
Cincinnati-based Kroger operates 2,778 retail food stores under a variety of local banner names in 35 states and the District of Columbia.