Food Retailers, Wholesalers Giving $45 Million to Katrina Relief

WASHINGTON, DC — September 20, 2005 (Updated from September 6) — Food retailers and wholesalers across America are already donating $30 million in financial support alone for Hurricane Katrina relief, according to the Food Marketing Institute (FMI). And they are giving $15 million more in aid, including truckloads of food, bottled water, ice, baby formula, diapers, paper towels, cleaning supplies, disinfectant and personal hygiene items.

     They are using their distribution centers near the disaster areas to collect and deliver materials, dedicating trucks, drivers, transportation executives and other employees to the relief effort.

     Retailers are collecting millions more in contributions from customers through fundraising events, auctions and checkout donations at more than 16,000 stores. In the past two weeks alone, food retailers reported they already collected almost $20 million in customer donations in their stores. Most of the contributions are going to the American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund and America’s Second Harvest.

     Posted on the FMI Web site are links to disaster relief information, including FMI’s updated guide, How Families Recovering From Hurricane Katrina Can Protect Themselves From Unsafe Food and Water, information on what to donate, how to donate and government information resources.

     At the same time, FMI is working with the government and manufacturers to ensure that the victims of Hurricane Katrina receive relief in the most efficient and expeditious manner possible, according to FMI President and CEO Tim Hammonds.

     “We are keeping The Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Preparedness Agency posted on our members’ immediate needs in the area. We need to ensure that food trucks moving into areas now cordoned off receive their immediate attention.”

     “When disaster strikes, Americans pull together to help those in need,” Hammonds said. “This outpouring of care and concern is part of our national character. As these massive humanitarian aid and recovery efforts move forward, FMI will work hard to provide useful information on how food retailers and wholesalers all over this country, and even the world, can play an important role in meeting the needs of those suffering so tragically.”

     Following are examples of how food retailers and wholesalers are providing relief. For more information and the most current reports on industry relief efforts, visit the FMI Web site.

Albertsons, Inc.,is donating $10 million, including $9 million in water, ice, food and other essentials, and a $1 million fund matching customer donations. The company is collecting donations in checkout canisters at all of its 2,500 stores.

Bashas’ Family of Stores is accepting monetary donations for the Red Cross relief fund through September 30. A portion of the donations will benefit local disaster victims, as well as countless other disaster victims throughout the United States. Bashas’ is accepting cash or check donations at all cash registers and customer service counters. Customers can add a specific dollar amount to their grocery total.

Big Y Foods, Inc. is accepting customer and employee donations at all locations throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut for the American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund. Big Y is matching up to $100,000 in donations.

BI-LO/Bruno’s supermarkets is matching customer donations up to $25,000. Shoppers are donating $1 or more by having Red Cross cards scanned at the checkout.

Bozzuto’s, Inc. and its Northeast and Mid-Atlantic independent retailers are pledging to donate at least a half a million dollars in goods and services to relief efforts. Bozzuto’s launched this initiative with a donation of 25,000 gallons of water.

Brookshire is matching up to a quarter of a million dollars in cash and food donations to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. Scan coupons allow customers to add $5 to their grocery bill at the checkout with 100 percent of the donations going to the American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund.

C&S Wholesale Grocers donated 400,000 pounds of food and provided an additional 600,000 pounds of products to hurricane victims. C&S provided one truckload of bottled water within 24 hours after the storm, followed by another two truckloads the next day. C&S partnered with Oprah Winfrey, America’s Second Harvest and Federal Express to facilitate the purchase and distribution of nine truckloads of food and supplies as part of Winfrey’s $1 million donation to help the rescue efforts. C&S also set up a system to collect employees’ contributions through payroll deduction for the American Red Cross or to the company’s internal charitable organization, Friends at C&S.

D & W Food Centers is providing customers with the opportunity to donate $5 to the American Red Cross at checkouts.

     
Davis Food Cooperative Inc. is collecting relief money and will match up $5,000. The money will be sent to the Cooperative Development Foundation’s Katrina Cooperative Recovery Fund and to the American Red Cross.

Dick’s Supermarkets and Piggly Wiggly are providing donation vouchers at checkouts for customers. They pledged $100,000 to the American Red Cross.

Dierbergs Markets, Inc., is inviting customers to add $2, $5 or $10 to their grocery bills at its 21 stores in the St. Louis, MO, area. The funds are being donated to the American Red Cross.

Farm Fresh, LLC is working with WAVY-TV and a local radio group to raise funds for the American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund.

     
Food City is contributing $10,000 and encouraging customers to round up their grocery bills for disaster relief. It also provided a semi trailer loaded with water to the relief effort. Donations are being accepted for case packs of product, including cleaning supplies, water, diapers, baby food, and consumption-ready food products such as granola bars and crackers.

Food Lion is making a $250,000 donation to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, and is raising money from customers through checkout contributions at all its 1,220 stores. The grocery receipts will list the donations, giving customers a record for tax deductions. This program will run through Sept. 24. The donations will go to the Red Cross. The company and its employees will also contribute two truckloads of drinking water, food and supplies and drive it to the Gulf Coast.

Giant Eagle is supporting the relief efforts through a corporate donation, as well as providing the opportunity for customers to contribute at approximately 300 supermarket and GetGo locations.

     
The Great A & P Tea Company, Inc. is collecting donations at checkouts for the American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund.

     
Hannaford Bros. Co. is making a $250,000 donation to the American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund in conjunction with sister companies Food Lion, LLC, and Kash n' Karry/Sweetbay.

     
Harris Teeter is selling $1 and $5 Hurricane Relief cards to raise money. The company will match up to $25,000 the donations. All money raised will go to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.
     

Hy-Vee, Inc., made a corporate donation of $100,000 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. In addition, all 221 Hy-Vee stores and Hy-Vee Drugstores in seven Midwestern states are putting out canisters and holding special events to collect donations for the Red Cross.

The Japanese Self Service Association donated $10,000 to the hurricane relief effort almost immediately after the storm hit. The contribution was forwarded to the American Red Cross.

Jax Markets is paying for a truckload of water and five-pound bags of rice to be distributed to hurricane victims by Associated Grocers, Baton Rouge, La.

The Kroger Co. is raising funds from customers at its more than 3,300 stores, and pledged to match employee donations up to $300,000. All the donations are going to the American Red Cross. The company expects to help raise more than $5 million for the relief effort. Kroger also is teaming up with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters to donate and deliver 20 refrigerated trailers filled with ice to American Red Cross kitchens in Louisiana. The trucks will be used for temporary storage and will remain in Louisiana for at least six weeks.

     
Marsh Supermarkets is collecting funds at all its stores for the American Red Cross. It is inviting shoppers to add $1 or more to their grocery bill on each visit through Sept. 30. The retailer is collecting donations at checkout canisters. The company is also donating non-perishable items to the Red Cross, working with Peyton Manning, the Indianapolis Colts and radio station Q-95. On September 8, it is hosting a live auction on a radio show to raise funds.

     
Meijer Inc., donated $25,000 to the American Red Cross, in addition to contributions being made by company associates. It also sent seven semi trucks loaded with ready-to-eat food, baby formula in bottles, bottled water and juice to the areas of Mississippi most affected by the disaster. The company is providing supplies to evacuees housed in Battle Creek, MI.

     
Mollie Stone’s is collecting customer donations in its stores for the American Red Cross.

New Leaf Community Markets is joining with its employees and the community in providing up to $10,000 in matching funds to help victims of the hurricane. New Leaf is matching employee donations to Mercy Corps or to the American Red Cross, and is also matching its customer contributions at the cash register for the remainder of the month of September.

     
Pathmark Stores, Inc. is contributing more than $250,000 to hurricane relief in company and customer donations. The company donated bottled water through the New Jersey National Guard and disposable diapers through the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, an affiliate of America's Second Harvest. Numerous Pathmark locations served as collection points for product donations in cooperation with food banks in New York and New Jersey. Employees volunteered time to help local relief agencies sort and pack products for shipment.

     
Price Chopper is raising funds in a campaign with television station WNYT and Albany Times Union. Customers can make donations by purchasing a Red Cross at the checkout for any amount; funds will go to the Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund. The retailer is matching donations up to $50,000.

     
Publix Super Markets, Inc.,, has raised more than $1.8 million from employees and from customers who can add contributions to their shopping bills. These funds will go to the American Red Cross.

Raley’s is providing American Red Cross donation boxes at every checkstand. Raley's owner and co-chairman Joyce Raley Teel and co-chairman Jim Teel made a personal contribution of $1 million to the American Red Cross on behalf of Raley's employees.

     
Roundy’s Supermarkets, Inc., is partnering with America’s Second Harvest of Wisconsin to help collect food at Pick ’n Save stores throughout the greater Milwaukee area. Roundy’s also partnered with the American Red Cross so customers throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois can donate to the Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund in its stores. Roundy’s is assisting employees companywide who want to donate to the American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund by collecting money and matching donations up to $20,000.

Royal Ahold is donating $1 million to the hurricane relief effort. This donation is in addition to the fundraising activities at Ahold’s food retail and foodservice subsidiaries in the United States. The donation will go to the American Red Cross and America’s Second Harvest.

     
Safeway launched a companywide fundraiser to benefit hurricane survivors and raised and contributed more than $3.5 million to date. The Safeway Foundation delivered an initial check for $100,000 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund and will match employee contributions to the relief organization. In addition, the company will donate 10,000 American Red Cross Emergency Preparedness Kits, which contain blankets, flashlights, first-aid supplies and other necessities.

     
Schnuck Markets, Inc., and the Schnuck Family of St. Louis is giving more than $1 million in cash and in-kind donations, including $250,000 in cash to both the Salvation Army and American Red Cross; $250,000 in products, also covering the transportation costs; and $250,000 in volunteer services. The company also donated its vacant Riverdale location to The Food Bank of the Mid-South as a part of its "Operation Open Door" initiative. Schnucks jump-started this initiative with $100,000 in shelf-stable food items and $25,000 in gift cards.   

Sears is making nearly $500,000 in merchandise and gift cards available to the American Red Cross, along with up to $500,000 in matching funds to help families hardest hit by the storm. Customers can donate to the American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina National Disaster Relief Fund at Sears and Kmart stores.

     
Sevananda Natural Foods Market is accepting donations at the checkout for as many months as necessary. At the store, customers can ask the cashier to round up their grocery bill to the nearest dollar. They can also add dollars for donations. The proceeds will go to America’s Second Harvest and St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral.

     
ShopRite is allowing customers to make checkout donations to the American Red Cross and America’s Second Harvest Disaster Relief. Wakefern Food Corporation, ShopRite, PriceRite and their affiliated companies contributed $100,000 to aid victims of the hurricane. To date, Wakefern raised close to $500,000 in aid and is giving another $500,000 in product donations.

     
Spartan Stores’ All Family Fare, Glen’s and Pharm stores are participating in a disaster relief scan program to raise funds for the relief efforts through Sept. 17. Customers can donate $1 by purchasing a scan card at the checkout. Customers can then write their name on the card, which will be displayed in the stores. All proceeds raised from the scan program will be donated to the Salvation Army hurricane relief effort.

     
Stater Bros. is accepting employee and checkout donations for the American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund at all of its 161 stores. On Sept. 1 and 2, it collected more than $2 million in fundraisers with CBS television affiliate KCAL-9 in the parking lots of four stores. The company is also leading local efforts to feed families relocated from the areas affected by the hurricane.

     
Stew Leonard’s is collecting contributions to aid victims through its Wishing Wells fund. Employees are donating funds, and the Stew Leonard family is giving $10,000. All the donations will go to the American Red Cross Hurricane Relief Fund throughout September.

     
The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company and Giant Food Inc. are collecting customer donations. To date, Stop & Shop and Giant stores collected nearly $1 million. All funds from the drive will go to the American Red Cross and America’s Second Harvest. The supermarket chains are also collecting donations from associates at their main offices and distribution facilities.

SUPERVALU INC. began its campaign with a $50,000 check on September 1 to American Red Cross Hurricane Relief. It is raising additional funds from customers and employees. The company sent four Save-A-Lot trucks to deliver $800,000 in critical supplies to emergency shelters.

     SUPERVALU operates both food distribution centers and retail stores near the affected region, and is working closely with state and local officials there to help deliver the most-needed supplies to relief workers and refugee shelters, as well as potentially provide logistics support.

Target has announced a $1.5 million donation to the American Red Cross, with $500,000 going for immediate relief efforts for the hurricane, and an additional $1 million for ongoing disaster relief and preparedness. The company also donated $1.2 million to help underwrite the "Shelter from the Storm" fundraising event, which raised $30 million. In addition to cash contributions, Target is offering real estate in Louisiana to the Red Cross to establish a central command center supporting the most heavily impacted areas of the storm. Target is also looking into real estate availability in Alabama and Mississippi. Target is coordinating large-scale distribution of essential products requested by the Red Cross, including such items as water, ice, energy bars and bug spray. Stores in the affected areas have been given additional funds to provide in-kind product donations and grants to local nonprofit organizations.

Tidyman’s LLC is accepting donations to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina through September 18. Customers can make donations in $1 increments at checkout. Tidyman’s is also partnering with a local television station and the local weatherman is barbequing hotdogs to raise awareness.

     
Tops Markets, LLC, is allowing customers to make a $1 donation to the American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina Relief Effort at checkouts through Sept. 17.

     
Ukrop’s and its affiliate First Market Bank are raising funds for the American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund and they matched the first $25,000 contributed. To date, they raised more than $270,000. Partnering with the Richmond television station WRIC, they are collecting bottled water, cleaning supplies, baby formula, diapers, paper products and personal hygiene items.

     
United Supermarkets, Ltd., is collecting customer donations in Texas in a campaign with KRBC 9 television. The funds raised are going to the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army and the United Methodist Church Committee on Relief.

     
Walgreen Co. made an initial donation of $250,000 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. In addition, the company will match employee donations up to $500,000; the donations will go to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. Employees may donate to the relief charity of their choice. The company is also donating truckloads of supplies and emergency medicines to relief efforts in all the affected areas.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., made cash donations of $17 million to relief efforts, along with $4 million to employees affected by the storm. Company teams are also setting up mobile Mini Wal-Mart Stores to provide materials such as diapers, toothbrushes, baby wipes and other personal items free of charge in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Wal-Mart has sent truckloads of water and other supplies requested by emergency relief agencies to staging and shelters in the affected areas.

Wegmans Food Markets, Inc., is donating $100,000 to American Red Cross Hurricane Relief Fund and collected more than $600,000 in customer donations.

     
Weis Markets, Inc., is accepting cash donations at all its 157 stores, allowing customers to add contributions to their grocery bills, whether they pay by cash, check or credit or debit card.

Wild Oats Markets, Inc., is accepting donations during September to help with Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

     
Winn Dixie Stores, Inc., is accepting donations at its stores through its “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” program. Customers can donate directly to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund by simply telling their cashier how much they want to add to their total bill. Winn Dixie is working to reopen stores in the New Orleans operating region. To date, 102 of the company's 125 stores in the region, or 82 percent, are open for business and in good supply on water, ice, charcoal and other essentials.