Winn-Dixie Water Aids Wounded Warriors

For the second straight year, Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. has rolled out commemorative bottled water packaging to raise funds for Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), a nonprofit organization that helps veterans injured in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. For every 24-pack sold through the Independence Day weekend, 10 cents will go to the organization, up to a total of $100,000.

“The proceeds from this program will help injured veterans regain what they have lost in service to our country,” explained Mary Kellmanson, group VP of marketing at Jacksonville, Fla.-based Winn-Dixie. “This is an excellent opportunity for Winn-Dixie and our guests to show support for the brave men and women who’ve dedicated their lives to defending freedom.”

Each case is wrapped in patriotic packaging with the U.S. flag and a bald eagle, and each bottle bears the WWP logo of a soldier carrying a wounded comrade. Retailing for $3.99 apiece, the 24-packs are currently available in all 484 of the grocer’s stores.

“We are thankful to Winn-Dixie for their continued support of those servicemen and women who have sacrificed so much,” said Steve Nardizzi, executive director of WWP, also based in Jacksonville. “This product helps raise awareness of the needs of the more than 44,000 of our nation’s service members have been physically wounded in the war on terror, and the more than 300,000 who are recovering from invisible wounds of war, including post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depression, and traumatic brain injury (TBI).”

Winn-Dixie operates 484 retail grocery locations, including 379 in-store pharmacies, in Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia and Mississippi.