Schnucks Community Kitchen

Origins:

The Schnucks Community Kitchen was introduced in 2022 to provide disaster relief to areas served by Schnucks that are impacted by natural disasters. The Community Kitchen is a full-service kitchen on wheels able to be quickly deployed to Schnucks communities throughout the Midwest.

Contribution:

Between the two community events, Schnucks donated $11,000 in food items to feed those in need. Some of the food donated included deli sandwiches, hot dogs, hamburgers, brats, fruit, chips, cookies, cupcakes, cake pops, freeze pops, and water.

Objectives:

The Schnucks Community Kitchen is deployed to areas following a natural disaster (flooding, storms, etc.) to provide food and drinks, compliments of Schnucks, to those area residents affected.

Impact:

On the afternoon of Thursday, July 28, 2022 as torrential rains continued to fall in the St. Louis area, water quickly began to build on the Schnucks Lindell’s parking lot eventually rushing into the store. Although the water quickly receded, the clean-up efforts were just beginning. The store was forced to close to customers for two and half days, and was only one of many homes and businesses throughout the St. Louis area which had been affected by flash flooding. On Saturday, July 30, 2022, the Schnucks Community Kitchen and a contingent of teammate volunteers and their family members pulled up to the parking lot to distribute complimentary lunches not only to teammates working in the store to clean up and restock but also to members of the nearby community. On June 30, 2023, The entire Columbia, Illinois area was hit especially hard, and Schnucks Market Place store was forced to partially close because its generator was not working. With all indications suggesting the area would be down for some time, Schnucks quickly dispatched the Schnucks Community Kitchen and served more than 1,600 area residents on the store's parking lot. In addition to disaster relief, the Community Kitchen is also deployed for Schnucks’ store celebrations and to other community events that are sponsored/supported by Schnucks.

Quote:

“Our mission to nourish people’s lives goes well beyond the food we sell in our stores. When our communities and our teammates are in need and come calling, Schnucks will be there to answer the call and to help in any way we can.”

--Schnucks Chairman and CEO Todd Schnuck

“Schnucks stepped in and fed the neighborhood. They came in strong with all these bags and all of this for the neighborhood and for the people and for the volunteers. We are truly thankful for that. You should be proud of your teammates. You guys are very powerful and we truly enjoyed you all. I just wanted to let these people know we are thankful.” -University City, Missouri resident Billy Clark - “Thank you Schnucks! That meal was a warm, delicious gift in the midst of a very tough week. Really appreciate you all!”

--Columbia, Illinois resident Cindy Randolph Hollmann

Support Statement:

“Schnucks stepped in and fed the neighborhood. They came in strong with all these bags and all of this for the neighborhood and for the people and for the volunteers. We are truly thankful for that. You should be proud of your teammates. You guys are very powerful and we truly enjoyed you all. I just wanted to let these people know we are thankful.” -University City, Missouri resident Billy Clark - “Thank you Schnucks! That meal was a warm, delicious gift in the midst of a very tough week. Really appreciate you all!”

--Columbia, Illinois resident Cindy Randolph Hollmann