To celebrate its 90th birthday this year, Giant Food says it is donating $990,000 to local Feeding America food banks to fight childhood hunger. The Washington, D.C.-area grocer also kicked off a fundraising campaign across its 163 stores, aiming to raise nearly $1 million more for over a dozen community groups.
"At Giant Food, our commitment to nourishing our neighborhoods has always extended beyond our stores and is deeply rooted in strong community partnerships," says Felis Andrade, director of external communications and community relations for Giant Food. "The '90 Days of Giving' campaign reflects our belief that when we invest in one another, we all thrive. We're proud to stand alongside our customers, partners and local organizations to make a meaningful difference for the communities that have supported us for 90 years. As a proud board member of the U.S. Dream Academy, one of the beneficiaries of this program, I see firsthand the critical role we play in supporting our local nonprofit partners."
Since the start of the company's partnership with Feeding America, Giant and the Giant Family Foundation have donated over $23 million in monetary contributions and over 26.6 million meals through fresh food recovery programs, the grocer says.
The Landover, Md.-based grocer, set to celebrate its 90th birthday Feb. 6, says it plans to announce major gifts from its Family Foundation fund to six hunger-fighting organizations, including the Capital Area Food Bank and Maryland Food Bank, at community events next month.
The "90 Days of Giving" campaign, which began Jan. 9, will also allow Giant Food customers to round up their totals with each purchase at stores across Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia. The retailer hopes to raise an additional $990,000 earmarked for 13 community groups, including the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region, American Farmland Trust, Building Bridges Across the River, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and more.
Giant Food opened its first location in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 6, 1936, on Georgia Avenue NW at Park Road as the region's very first self-service supermarket. Today, Giant says it has 163 stores, more than 20,000 associates and an incredible legacy of charitable giving and community partnerships.
Customers can expect a spate of community initiatives and events, including giveaway contests, grant programs and more to continue throughout the year as Giant Food celebrates the milestone, the company says.
