Save Mart, Lucky and FoodMaxx on Saturday will match donations to local Bay Area, and Monterey and Santa Cruz County, Feeding America-affiliated food banks through their “Holiday Shares” program, for a total dollar-for-dollar matching grant of up to $5,000 for the day.
This initiative could not come at a more critical time for local food banks, according to the companies. Already stretched heading into the holiday season, recent cuts to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps, significantly dented the food budgets of thousands of local, low-income households. As a result of these cuts, coupled with skyrocketing costs of living in the Bay Area, food pantries and soup kitchens throughout the region are reporting significantly longer lines this year.
Food banks are some of the nation’s most efficient, direct-impact charities, the companies say. At most Northern California food banks, a donation of $35 will provide a low-income family of four with one week’s worth of meals. Holiday Shares is a program of Save Mart, Lucky and FoodMaxx to help raise awareness of hunger in their communities and how, together with their shoppers, they can work to end this problem. Through Jan. 3, shoppers can grab a tag at checkout that will directly donate $5, $10, $15 or $20 to their local food bank. This year Save Mart’s Holiday Shares donation drive, along with its “Fresh Food Rescue” program, will once again help local food banks give the gift of a full stomach to many this holiday season and throughout the year.
“Food banks rely on community support year-round to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said Michael Altfest, communications manager for Alameda County Community Food Bank. “We’re extremely grateful to our partners at Lucky and FoodMaxx for inspiring contributors with this generous matching grant, and making the holidays much brighter for our neighbors in need.”
