Company : Southeastern Grocers
Program category : Food Insecurity

Origins:

As a grocer deeply rooted in the communities it serves, Southeastern Grocers (SEG) has nourished and uplifted its neighbors across the Southeast for nearly 100 years. SEG and the SEG Gives Foundation are committed to helping ease the burden for those struggling to put food on the table, and the grocer is dedicated to bettering its communities by providing accessible means to nutritious food. The five states SEG serves, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi, rank among the top 20 for highest food insecurity rates in the country with two states falling within the top five, according to the latest research from the United States Department of Agriculture. As these shocking numbers highlight a critical need, SEG is committed to partnering with organizations that focus on creating equitable, long-term solutions to food insecurity. The grocer continues to nurture its longstanding relationships with impactful partners such as Feeding America®, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, to aid the millions of people who are faced with hunger daily in America. Since 2005, the grocer has partnered with Feeding America and its local partner food banks to fight food insecurity. Each year, SEG renews its steadfast commitment to ensuring greater access to nutritious, wholesome food to foster the health and happiness of its neighbors. In 2023 alone, the grocer proudly donated more than $560,000 in crucial funds to its nonprofit partners in addition to 13 million pounds of food to help alleviate hunger in underserved communities within its five-state footprint.

Contribution:

As people face impossible choices between food and other necessities, SEG and the SEG Gives Foundation remain steadfast in their commitment to support those struggling. SEG held its annual in-store community donation program benefiting Feeding America, and customers joined the fight against hunger by simply donating $1, $5 or rounding up their total. Every cent supported feeding undernourished communities experiencing hunger during the holidays. Additionally, the grocer’s associates joined hands with community partners to host several events throughout 2023, including more than 25 mobile food pantries to get nourishing food directly into the hands of neighbors in need. Before Thanksgiving, the grocer distributed over 7,000 turkeys and holiday side items to help families prepare a delicious meal to enjoy together. The grocer also supported several grassroots initiatives throughout the year to meet people where they are, engage the community and create a positive impact at a hyperlocal level.

Objectives:

Through its ongoing hunger relief initiatives, SEG’s primary objective is to create a future where no one goes hungry by supporting the tireless work to end hunger in the Southeast and beyond. Through its donations to local food banks and ongoing community hunger-relief initiatives, the grocer strives to alleviate the burden of food insecurity on families in local communities and empower neighbors to live their fullest lives. Prolonged hunger negatively impacts a person’s health and well-being, and the grocer is committed to strengthening the communities it serves by feeding and uplifting families and individuals in need. By providing vital funds, grocery essentials and hands-on volunteer support, SEG is continuing its decades-long commitment to helping neighbors get the proper nourishment needed to thrive and flourish in their daily lives.

Impact:

As part of its ongoing commitment, the grocer donated more than 16.4 million meals to feed community members in need in 2023. SEG made several contributions to provide year-round support for summer hunger efforts and Hunger Action Month® as well as distributing special meals for the holidays. Part of its summer hunger initiative, the grocer, together with its charitable arm, provided $160,000 to eight Southeast food banks to help combat food insecurity for children without school meal programs. During Hunger Action Month, SEG donated $150,000 and more than 76,000 pounds of food to thousands of people who face hunger daily. SEG continued to support neighbors by giving back to local initiatives to nourish underserved communities. SEG donated $20,000 to New Orleans Community Fridges, a mutual aid effort to provide free food to community members. The grocer partnered with Pie in the Sky Community Alliance to deliver 100 cartons of eggs each month to over 550 seniors in St. Johns County. Six months following Hurricane Ian, SEG hosted a food drive in partnership with Florida’s Pine Island Food Pantry, enabling customers to help hungry neighbors. The grocer also donated $15,000 in groceries to the Selma Area Food Bank to feed Alabamians following devastating tornadoes. SEG also opened a new store in Jacksonville last year to support Arlington’s revitalization, providing winning savings and greater access to affordable, nourishing food. The grocer’s Romay Davis Belonging, Inclusion and Diversity Grant also supports nonprofits addressing racial disparities in food insecurity – providing $400,000 last year.

Quote:

Anthony Hucker, President and CEO of Southeastern Grocers, said, “As a local grocer, we believe it is our responsibility to help families put food on the table, and we aim to be the neighbor you can always count on. Our passion for nurturing local communities drives us to support initiatives that bridge the nutrition gap for our neighbors in need. Through our continued partnerships with dedicated organizations like Feeding America, we remain wholeheartedly committed to getting nourishing food to those who need a helping hand. Together with our associates, customers and partners, we are proud to provide communities with critical assistance during their most vulnerable times by taking action to provide families with the nutritious food they need to lead a more healthy, happy life.”

Support Statement:

Lauren Biedron, Senior Vice President of Corporate Partnerships at Feeding America, said, “Everyone needs nutritious food to thrive, yet in 2022, 44 million people experienced food insecurity in the U.S. –an increase of nearly 31% from 2021. Given that people in the South are more likely to live in food-insecure households, our communities need more support now than ever. We are grateful to have Southeastern Grocers as a long-standing partner as we strive to enrich lives by ending hunger in our country. We appreciate their year-round dedication and commitment to the communities they serve, and we look forward to continuing our partnership as we work together to provide fresh meals to families and build a brighter, food-secure future for all.”