News and Media

For Immediate Release

October 7, 2009

Jamie Miller
Giant Food LLC
(301) 341-8776
jmiller@giantofmaryland.com

Sara Neumann
Susan Davis International
202-414-0788
sneumann@susandavis.com

 

Stop & Shop/Giant Family Foundation Provides Relief for Local Food Banks

$1.5 million Donation Sustains Hunger Relief Programs for Local Children

Landover, Md. (October 7, 2009) – The Stop & Shop/Giant Family Foundation today announced a $1.5 million commitment to local food banks to fund programs that provide free meals and snacks to some of the 12 million children in America who live in households without enough food to fulfill their basic needs.¹ The supermarket chains believe the three year commitment will help to sustain a bevy of local food banks stretched by a growing demand for services. Some food banks have observed as much as a 25 percent increase in services over the past year ² while others watch donations decline, in some cases as much as 53 percent.³

To assist these organizations, the Stop & Shop/Giant Family Foundation will divide the funds among more than 17 local Feeding America food banks including the Greater Boston Food Bank, Capital Area Food Bank, Maryland Food Bank and Connecticut Food Bank to name a few. Donations were awarded based on the number of families each organization serves and the number of store locations in the surrounding communities.

“Food nourishes the body and mind,” said Robin Michel, executive vice president and general manager for Giant Food. “We value the communities we serve and pride ourselves on being able to make a commitment that will ensure that children receive the nourishment they need to live healthy, productive lives.”

Hunger Relief Programs
The $1.5 million dollar commitment is on top of the supermarket chains’ annual hunger action relief initiatives which include programs such as Stop & Shop’s Food for Friends and Turkey Express, as well as Giant’s Good Neighbor Food & Fund Drive. These annual programs are expected to raise more than $1.3 million in 2009. Customers also will be encouraged to donate non-perishable items at Giant Food stores between Nov. 6 and Dec. 31, 2009. Last year Giant collected more than 200,000 pounds of food. This latest donation will provide funding for the following programs over the next three years:

Kids Cafe – Operates in more than 1,700 locations, providing free meals and snacks to low-income children through Boys & Girls Clubs, churches, and/or public schools. Select locations also offer educational, recreational and social activities. Stop & Shop will open its first Kids Cafe in Brockton, Mass., later this month.

BackPack Program – Serves more than 70,000 children a year in 41 states and the District of Columbia. Backpacks are filled with nutritious, child-friendly, non-perishable food and discretely distributed to children on the last day of school prior to the weekend and or holiday vacations. Select programs provide extra food for younger siblings at home and operate in the summer.

“The need is great and grows every day,” said Catherine D’Amato, president and CEO of the Greater Boston Food Bank. “These funds will allow us to continue to provide nutritious meals and snacks for children who would otherwise go hungry. Every little bit goes a long way. We’re looking forward to making this count and making a difference in the lives of thousands of children throughout the state and beyond.” To learn more about Stop & Shop and Giant Food’s hunger action initiatives visit, www.stopandshop.com or www.giantfood.com.

About the Stop & Shop - Giant Family Foundation
The Stop & Shop – Giant Family Foundation was created to support educational and recreational programs for children across the communities served by the Stop & Shop Supermarket Company and Giant Food. The Foundation donated more than $750,000 in 2008/2009 and committed $1.2 million as a result of its fundraising efforts.

About Stop & Shop Supermarket Company
The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company, headquartered in Quincy, Mass., employs more than 59,000 associates and operates stores throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire, New York and New Jersey. The company is a member of the US Green Building Council and has been awarded LEED (EB) certifications for 50 of its existing stores. Stop & Shop has been recognized by the EPA for the superior energy management of its stores and is also a member of the EPA's Smart Way program.

About Giant Food
Giant Food LLC, headquartered in Landover, Md., operates 181 supermarkets in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia, and employs approximately 22,000 associates. Included within the 181 stores are 164 full-service pharmacies. Giant is owned by Netherlands-based Ahold. For more information on Giant, visit www.GiantFood.com.

¹ United States Department of Agriculture, Household Food Security in the United States, 2006
² Food Bank of New York City, 2008
³ Greater Boston Foodbank, 2007