Stater Bros. Kicks off Holiday Food Drive

Stater Bros. Supermarkets, in conjunction with its charitable arm, Stater Bros. Charities, has launched its 4th annual “Harvesting Hope in our Community” holiday food drive in Southern California. The program provides food and funding to hunger relief efforts in Stater Bros.’ local communities throughout November and December.

Stater Bros. Charities will present over $450,000 in cash donations to over 100 Southern California food banks and self-help organizations. These funds were collected during the course of the year through the Stater Bros. Charities’ Customers Care Program. Customers and employees participate in the program by donating their loose change or by purchasing Scannable Donation Cards while paying for their groceries at the check stand.

“Many of our hard working customers have exhausted their resources and are being forced to get extra help this holiday season,” said Jack H. Brown, chairman and CEO of the San Bernardino, Calif.-based grocer. “Stater Bros. is going to help in the best way we know how by keeping our prices low and helping our food banks get a big boost for the holiday season.”

All 167 Stater Bros. locations will have food barrels in place to collect nonperishable food items, as well as accept additional cash donations at each check stand for allocation to food banks in the summer of 2013 when food reserves are traditionally low.

Each year, Stater Bros. and Stater Bros. Charities contribute over $15 million to assist those in need, with an emphasis on worthy programs that benefit hunger relief, children’s services, veterans care, education, and the elderly.  Stater Bros. also donates over 3 million pounds of food annually to local food banks.

As the largest privately owned supermarket chain in Southern California, Stater Bros. currently operates 167 locations.