CHICAGO, Ill., 2017-Oct-18 — /EPR Retail News/ — Today (Oct 17, 2017), the NGA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the National Grocers Association (NGA), announced it raised $76,959.37, or 846,553 meals, for Feeding America, the largest domestic hunger-relief organization, as part of the first-ever Independence Day of Giving campaign. The donation was presented as a check to Nancy Curby, senior vice president of corporate partnerships and operations at Feeding America, during NGA’s Fall Leadership Meetings in Chicago, Ill.
The campaign, in partnership with Retailer Owned Food Distributors & Associates (ROFDA), encouraged shoppers at locally-owned supermarkets to add a $1, $3, or $5 donation to their grocery bills throughout the month of June, with a focus on June 21 as the Independents Day of Giving. The funds will be redistributed to local food pantries to help purchase, package, and transport food to Americans who are facing the nation’s hunger crisis through Feeding America’s nationwide network.
“Whether it’s restocking nearby food pantries in times of need or raising money to close the hunger gap, locally-owned independent supermarkets have a long history of giving back to the communities they serve,” said Peter J. Larkin, president and CEO of NGA. “It’s just another example of how independent grocers across the country stand apart.”
“No one should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from—especially children,” said Francis Cameron, president and CEO of ROFDA. “Independents Day of Giving is just one more example of how the independent supermarket industry is helping nourish kids and families in need throughout our nation.”
One in eight people struggles with hunger in the United States, according to Feeding America. As of 2016, 41.2 million Americans live in food-insecure households, including 28.3 million adults and 12.9 million children, according to the USDA.
The donations were collected by Making Change, a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit, and redistributed back into the local communities of each participating independent supermarket by Feeding America.
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Source: NGA