C&S Grocers Steps Up to the Plate for the Hungry

C&S Wholesale Grocers and its family of companies were quite busy during Hunger Action Month in September, raising funds and taking part in programs to help those in need. C&S is a mission partner to Chicago-based anti-hunger organization Feeding America.

“The national Hunger Action Month campaign encouraged us to learn more about the issue and to take steps to address it,” noted chairman and CEO Rick Cohen, chairman and CEO of Keene, N.H.-based C&S.

The wholesaler’s many activities to combat hunger during the campaign included the following:

--The eighth annual Food for Kids drive, to which employees donated more than 16,000 pounds of nonperishable food to local food banks. For every pound, C&S made a $1 contribution to Feeding America’s “BackPack Program,” which provides nutritious food to food-insecure kids to eat over weekends or school vacations.

--Investment in Feeding America member food banks in or near communities where C&S operates. This year funds went to programs in the District of Columbia; Hatfield, Mass., Cornwall-on-Hudson, N.Y.; Birmingham, Ala.; Bloomfield, Conn.; Honolulu; and Baltimore

But the company’s anti-hunger programs extend beyond well beyond a single month of the year. C&S division GU Markets LLC said it has raised more than $137,000 since 2006 through its summer and holiday “Food For All” campaigns, thanks to the direct support of its customers and employees. Funds from the initiatives will go to local and regional Feeding America food banks.

Additionally, C&S served as presenting sponsor of Share Our Strength’s Conference of Leaders held last month in Washington. Attended by 400 chefs, grant recipients, donors and thought leaders from a range of fields, and volunteers, the two-day event highlighted the ambitious “No Kid Hungry” campaign, which has the goal of ending childhood hunger in the United States by 2015.

This month, the company donated 5,300 turkeys to 24 statewide or regional Feeding America food banks. The turkeys will enable needy families to celebrate a traditional Thanksgiving holiday. In mid-November, C&S will distribute turkeys to employees, many of whom will in turn donate the birds to area food banks.

The nation’s largest food wholesaler, C&S serves about 3,900 stores from more than 50 locations in 11 states. Its customers include Stop & Shop, Giant-Carlisle, Giant-Landover, Shaw’s, A&P, Ralphs, Safeway and Target.