Shaw’s Supermarkets®, part of the nationwide Supervalu® family of grocery stores, recently kicked off its Spirit of Giving Food Drive, encouraging customers to give back to those in need this holiday season. The program allows shoppers to purchase pre-assembled food bags at Shaw’s locations that will then be donated to local hunger relief partners and food banks.
Through Dec. 18, Shaw’s customers can purchase pre-assembled bags that contain much-needed holiday food items ranging from green beans to tomato sauce for $5, $10 or $15. Once purchased, the pre-assembled bags will be placed in a designated drop bin and Shaw’s stores will deliver them to a local food partner. With the holidays around the corner, the 2011 Spirit of Giving Food Drive makes it convenient for customers to contribute directly to hunger relief in their community.
“The need for hunger relief is prevalent all year, but it takes on an added level of importance during the holiday season,” said Mike Stigers, president of Shaw’s. “At Shaw’s we are acutely aware of the hunger problems within our community and are pleased to be able to launch the Spirit of Giving initiative to encourage our customers and associates to help get food to those who need it.”
All of the food collected during the Spirit of Giving drive will go directly to community food banks and pantries throughout Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Rhode Island. In keeping with the spirit of being a neighborhood grocer, store directors at all 169 Shaw’s locations have worked to identify local organizations within their communities who will be the recipients of the food.
While donating food is a reward in itself, Shaw’s has an added incentive for its shoppers to participate in the Spirit of Giving program. With the purchase of a Spirit of Giving bag, shoppers can earn game tickets for Shaw’s “Wish Big, Win Big” holiday giveaway and have a chance to win more than $15 million in prizes and money savings offers.
As part of Shaw’s continued effort to help combat hunger this holiday season, the grocery retailer also has donated approximately 10,000 turkeys to food partners in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.
