Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons Cos., along with the Albertsons Cos. Foundation, raised nearly $6 million through customer donations made at the register in September to help break the cycle of hunger.
The donations will go to support community organizations committed to connecting qualified individuals with existing federal meal programs. Grants will be awarded in October through the company’s Nourishing Neighbors charitable program to help those in need sign up for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women Infants and Children (WIC). 
This fundraising campaign underscores the company’s support of the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health and its goal to help 50,000 eligible neighbors enroll in SNAP and WIC benefits in 2023.
More than 130 local food banks, soup kitchens and community organizations, such as Northern Illinois Food Bank, Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon, The Greater Boston Food Bank and Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, will receive Nourishing Neighbors grants so they can conduct outreach and provide SNAP and WIC enrollment support for neighbors in need.
“There are millions of people in this country who need access to nutritious food and qualify for federal food assistance programs, but they don’t know how to enroll or get the support they need,” said Christy Duncan Anderson, president and executive director of Albertsons Cos. Foundation. “At Albertsons Cos., we are committed to help break the cycle of hunger and inspire healthy eating. Thanks to the generous donations of our customers, our Nourishing Neighbors program is able to give nearly $6 million in grants to organizations dedicated to helping with enrollment, outreach, transportation and other issues that might prevent people from participating in federal meal programs.”
Nourishing Neighbors is a charitable program of Albertsons Cos. Foundation and seeks to ensure at-risk children, adults, seniors and families have access to the food they need to thrive. Additionally, Albertsons Cos. offers online SNAP access and educational information in all banner stores including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, ACME and Tom Thumb.
“We know that programs like SNAP are a critical support for our neighbors experiencing hunger,” said Jaz Bias, co-executive director of Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon. “We’re thrilled to partner with the Albertsons Companies Foundation to expand access to these programs and improve food security for individuals and families throughout Oregon.”
Maeven Sipes, chief philanthropy officer at Northern Illinois Food Bank, said they are grateful for the support from the foundation. “Our SNAP team is dedicated to helping neighbors get the nutritious food they need to thrive, with dignity, equity and convenience.”
About Nourishing Neighbors and Albertsons Cos. Foundation
Nourishing Neighbors is the signature cause platform of the Albertsons Cos. Foundation, operating under 17 banners including Safeway, Albertsons, ACME, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s and Vons. In 2022, Nourishing Neighbors raised more than $40 million and provided over 188 million meals to ensure those living in Albertsons Cos. communities and those impacted by disasters have enough to eat. The foundation is committed to enabling the donation of one billion meals by 2030 and actively championing innovative programs and partnerships to help break the cycle of hunger in the neighborhoods it serves.
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