Albertsons Companies' Nourishing Neighbors

Origins:

The Nourishing Neighbors Initiative is part of Albertsons Companies’ long-standing commitment to hunger relief. Since its inception in 2014, Nourishing Neighbors (formerly known as Hunger Is), under the Albertsons Companies Foundation has donated nearly $1 billion to food banks and other hunger relief agencies, expanding Albertsons Co.’s standing as one of the biggest retail supporters of hunger relief in the country. The program supports various initiatives including breakfast for kids, summer meals, holiday dinners, backpacks for kids to take home over the weekend, school pantries, innovative grants, etc. Our goal is to ensure all our communities’ tables and pantries are full so that our neighbors can learn, grow, and succeed. As the pandemic unfolded in 2020, food scarcity quickly became an alarming problem in the United States. As an essential grocer serving nearly 2,300 neighborhoods nationwide, Albertsons Companies found itself uniquely positioned to lead and serve our communities when they needed it most. Early in 2020 the company committed $53 million to the Nourishing Neighbors community relief initiative to address increasing hunger issues caused by the pandemic. In addition to the company’s donation, throughout the year a record-breaking amount of funds were donated by generous customers to in-store donation campaigns.

Contribution:

In 2020 Albertsons Cos. and Albertsons Companies Foundation gave $260 million in food-specific donations to aid hunger relief efforts. This is the largest amount ever given out in a one-year period by the company and the foundation. It includes food and monetary donations from the company as well as donations collected at the register from customers. In recognition of the efforts of the Albertsons Companies Foundation to partner with its customers to raise funds for hunger relief, it was named second in point-of-sale fundraising in 2020 according to Engage for Good’s industry survey for America’s Charity Checkout Champions. Some of the lasting impact made in 2020 on food insecurity:

• $94 million given to hunger relief organizations across the United States
• $13 million individuals reached
• Over 3,000 organizations helped
• 350 million meals enabled including 37.5 million breakfasts for kids
• $9 million invested in empowering BIPOC communities through hunger programs
• $10.4 million invested in schools to feed kids during the pandemic
• $4 million invested in innovative programs to unlock ways to feed our neighbors

Objectives:

The primary objectives of Nourishing Neighbors are as follow:

• End childhood hunger: Fund programs that ensure all kids have access to healthy breakfast so that they can learn, grow, and succeed.
• Emergency food relief: Ensure food banks are stocked so they can respond to rising demand, support emergency meal distribution programs at schools, and assist senior centers and other programs that supply meals and food to seniors.
• Sustainable safety nets services such as SNAP/WIC: Support organizations that are helping connect families to federal meals programs.
• Innovation grants: Support organizations with wide-reaching, scalable and innovative ideas on addressing hunger issues in their community.

Impact:

In 2020 Albertsons Cos. and Albertsons Companies Foundation gave $260 million in food-specific donations to aid hunger relief efforts. This is the largest amount ever given out in a one-year period by the company and the foundation. It includes food and monetary donations from the company as well as donations collected at the register from customers. Some of the lasting impact made in 2020 on food insecurity:

• $94 million given to hunger relief organizations across the United States
• $13 Million individuals reached
• Over 3,000 organizations helped
• 350 million meals enabled including 37.5 million breakfasts for kids
• $9 million invested in empowering BIPOC communities through hunger programs
• $10.4 million invested in schools to feed kids during the pandemic
• $4 million invested in innovative programs to unlock ways to feed our neighbors

Quote:

“As our communities faced rising food insecurity, Albertsons Companies, the Albertsons Companies Foundation Nourishing Neighbors program, and our customers stepped up to help those in need. We set a record $260 million in food and monetary donations to aid hunger relief organizations in our local communities. This helped us reach 13 million individuals and over 3,000 organizations.” -Vivek Sankaran, CEO Albertsons Companies

“WhyHunger is proud to be part of the Nourishing Neighbors advisory council and to be a partner in investing in local efforts helping people in need and in our hunger hotline and find food service to help millions of people access SNAP and other important programs. This is a very powerful national initiative to address immediate hunger needs and strengthen programs that will end hunger for good. In 2020 Nourishing Neighbors enabled 350 million meals, invested $10.4 million in schools to feed kids, and provided $9 million towards empowering BIPOC communities through hunger programs.” -Noreen Springstead, Executive Director, Why Hunger

Support Statement:

“WhyHunger is proud to be part of the Nourishing Neighbors advisory council and to be a partner in investing in local efforts helping people in need and in our hunger hotline and find food service to help millions of people access SNAP and other important programs. This is a very powerful national initiative to address immediate hunger needs and strengthen programs that will end hunger for good. In 2020 Nourishing Neighbors enabled 350 million meals, invested $10.4 million in schools to feed kids, and provided $9 million towards empowering BIPOC communities through hunger programs.” -Noreen Springstead, Executive Director, Why Hunger