Last updated on April 11th, 2023 at 04:45 pm
Two divisions that operate as part of The Raley’s Companies – Bashas’, which has grocery stores in Arizona and New Mexico, and Raley’s, which has them in California and Nevada – were selected by FirstFruits to participate in the “Take a Bite Out of Hunger” initiative.
They donated about 40,000 pounds of apples to local food banks that serve metro Phoenix and Northern California across Placer, El Dorado and Nevada counties.
Raley’s and Bashas’ are two of three chosen to participate in the give-back collaboration this year.
Raley’s and Bashas’ Family of Stores earned the donations for their communities based on the number of apples they sold in stores in January and February. Because shoppers purchased 24 percent more apples during this timeframe in 2023 than last year, this year’s donation will be 24 percent greater as well.
The mission of the annual “Take a Bite Out of Hunger” collaboration is to feed the underserved while bringing attention to the problem of food insecurity in the U.S. The two grocery chains have a history of participating in the give-back campaign; Bashas’ has participated annually since 2018, and Raley’s has been involved since the program’s inception in 2010.
“Supporting local food banks is a natural way for us to ensure that families in need in the communities we serve have access to fresh, nutrititious foods,” said Chelsea Minor, executive director of community impact and public affairs for The Raley’s Companies. “Teaming up with organizations like FirstFruits allows us to extend our giving even further.”
In California, an estimated one in 11 residents experience hunger or food insecurity. Among households receiving SNAP benefits, about 49 percent have children. In Arizona, as many as one in nine people struggle with hunger, and the number of children is higher – about one in six Arizona children experience hunger or do not have regular access to foods.
Since the program began, more than 2.8 million pounds of fresh apples have been donated in participating retailers’ names to local food banks in their communities.
“We’re grateful for the support we have received from Raley’s and Bashas’ over the years,” said Joe Vargas, director of marketing and analytics for FirstFruits. “These community-minded grocery stores are fantastic contributors to the neighborhoods they serve.”
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