Last updated on December 11th, 2018 at 03:16 pm
Southeastern Grocers (SEG), parent company of BI-LO, Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, together with the SEG Gives Foundation, has set a goal to donate 20 million meals to the communities it serves in 2018. To date, the grocer has donated nearly 17 million meals to Feeding America through continued efforts to fight hunger throughout the Southeast.
This holiday season, Southeastern Grocers and its SEG Gives Foundation have launched a company-wide Holiday Hunger Relief Program with Feeding America. The grocer will raise funds for two weeks in all BI-LO, Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie stores. Now through Dec. 15, customers are encouraged to help eliminate food insecurity and support families in need during the holidays by donating to the cause at checkout as they shop their neighborhood store. 
“As a grocer, feeding the community is more than our job—it’s our passion,” said Anthony Hucker, president and CEO of Southeastern Grocers. “As a dedicated Feeding America community partner, we are pledging to provide more than 20 million meals this year to aid in the ongoing fight against hunger. We are committed to being the store that all our neighbors and associates can count on to help create memories around their holiday table this season.”
“The holidays are an especially important time to support families in need,” said Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America. “Our friends at Southeastern Grocers engage their community in the mission to end hunger throughout the year with increased action this season. Feeding America is grateful for their campaign asking customers and associates to donate funds and food, ensuring warm meals for communities in need this December and beyond.”
In addition to the in-store donation program, SEG will donate nearly 200,000 lbs. of shelf-stable SE Grocers products and fresh produce to help provide holiday meals to the one in eight local community members who will struggle with hunger this holiday. The holiday mobile pantry events will be hosted in partnership with Feeding America food banks and community organizations. The first event, Feeding Tampa Bay, was held Dec. 4. in Clearwater. Upcoming event locations and dates include:
- Feeding South Florida, Dec. 11, Lauderhill, Florida
- City Center of Albany, Dec. 12, Albany, Georgia
- Lowcountry Food Bank, Dec. 13, Charleston, South Carolina
- Feeding the Gulf Coast, Dec. 15, Panama City, Florida
- Feeding Northeast Florida, Dec. 18, Jacksonville, Florida
In addition, from Dec. 12-25 shoppers may purchase a $5 prepared bag of non-perishable food items to be donated to local Feeding America food banks when they check out of any BI-LO, Harveys Supermarket or Winn-Dixie store.
The SEG Gives Foundation continues to support its official partnership with Feeding America through various initiatives that foster strong relationships between its stores and local food banks. This includes volunteer efforts throughout its footprint and continued contributions of more than 200 million pounds of food that BI-LO, Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie stores have donated through the food rescue program since 2005.
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