By Eric Payne, NGA Manager of Communications
During the COVID-19 pandemic, independent grocers are heroically serving their communities on the frontlines, dealing with unprecedented demand while working in a new, socially distanced, environment.
Local, family-owned, independent grocers have always been known for their generosity, whether it’s through food drives, round up at the register campaigns, or outreach to community organizations – our members are always there for their communities.
This reputation for generosity hasn’t waned during the pandemic, with independent grocers going above and beyond to lend a helping hand during these difficult times. Here are a few examples we have seen over the last month.
NuNu’s Fresh Market Contributes $5,000 to Foster of Love Louisiana
NuNu’s fresh market raised $5,000 from their bourbon raffle, which involved customers purchasing tickets for a chance to win several rare bottles of bourbon, with the proceeds going to a local charity – NuNu’s Fresh Market employees chose Foster of Love Louisiana, which supports foster and adoptive families throughout the Bayou State.
Save Mart Companies Helps Community with Food Drive
Save Mart’s annual Give. Share. CARE! Holiday Drive offers customers the option to add a donation to their purchase at checkout, with the proceeds helping feed those in need. Save Mart breaks it down simply: 2$ feeds one-person breakfast, $3 a lunch, and $5 a dinner.
Save Mart Senior Vice President of Retail Operations said the following about the program:
“With so many struggling with food insecurity especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the support from our generous customers is making a difference and goes a long way toward helping our neighbors during this holiday season.”
Learn more from The Richmond Standard here.
Rouses Makes $10K Donation Through Produce for Kids Campaign
As part of the grand opening of a new store in South Lake Charles, Louisiana, Rouses Markets presented a $10,000 check to Feeding America Food Banks, with the proceeds going to several organizations in the South Lake Charles region. The funds were generated through the Produce for Kids Campaign, which is supported by several fresh fruits and vegetables providers.
Rouses Markets CEO, Donny Rouse, said the following about the campaign:
“We strive to make a difference in every community we serve. The Produce for Kids campaign is a great program, and we’re proud to be a part of it. We know this donation will help to improve the lives of our customers and employees, which is what we seek to do in every way we can.”
UNFI Team Gives Back on Thanksgiving
The UNFI team in Providence, Rhode Island, was busy the day before Thanksgiving organizing a food drive for New Beginnings Soup Kitchen and Pawtucket Soup Kitchen. They collected a pallet and half of non-perishable items to help these organizations stock their shelves.
Roche Bros Teams Up with Rock Band to Deliver Thanksgiving Meals
Chaos and kindness is a retail store in New Hampshire founded by Justin Spencer of the rock band Recycled Percussion – their goal is to inspire kindness and give back to the community. They teamed up with Associated Grocers of New England with the goal to provide 400 Thanksgiving meals to those in need; however, they quickly surpassed this by generating $15,000, resulting in 530 meals.
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