Drew Wilson
Florida’s homegrown grocery giant plans to ante up in the fight against hunger.
Publix announced Monday that will make $2 billion in food donations over the next decade. Combined with $2 billion in donations the company has made since 2009, it’s total efforts will meet $4 billion.
“You can’t always see hunger, but it is all around us,” said Todd Jones, CEO of the Lakeland-based company. “As a food retailer, our greatest opportunity to give back is by helping to alleviate food insecurity. That’s why for more than a decade we have worked to ensure millions of pounds of food have reached people in need in the communities we serve.”
Though Publix’s announcement comes during Thanksgiving week, their donations will be an everyday occurrence.
The company’s food recovery program sees employees gather foods that it can no longer sell and set them aside for distribution to more than 100 Feeding America member food banks and other nonprofit organizations.
“For over a decade, Publix has partnered with Feeding America and member food banks to help provide nourishing food to our neighbors in need,” Feeding America CEO Claire Babineaux-Fontenot said. “We are grateful for our long-standing partnership and for Publix’s commitment to fighting hunger.”
According to Feeding America, 9 million Americans in the Southeast don’t have enough food to eat. Nationwide, 1 in 8 people are undernourished.
With hunger affecting every community Publix serves, it is at the center of the company’s charitable efforts. Publix has a nearly 90-year history of supporting the communities in which it operates, beginning with the efforts of its founder, George Jenkins.
More information on Publix’s anti-hunger efforts is available online.
One comment
TASTELESS PRODUCE!
November 25, 2019 at 1:13 pm
Given the unripe and tasteless produce they typically sell – along with a lot of their leather-like and really inedible meats – “free food” from Publix is often no bargain!
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