Hannaford’s Fuel Kids at School program to donate $1 million to support hunger relief efforts at schools in New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine
Shrewsbury, MA – Hannaford Supermarkets today announced a $12,800 donation to the Worcester County Food Bank, which will allow the non-profit organization to establish food pantries in partnership with the Athol-Royalston Regional School District and other community partners.
Designed to serve as a vital and convenient resource to students and families in need while also increasing access to healthy and nutritious food, the in-school pantries are dedicated spaces where students and their families can select food they enjoy based on their preferences and cooking abilities to provide nourishment both during and after the school day.
The donation is one component of an overall $1 million commitment from Hannaford Supermarkets through its new “Fuel Kids at School” program, which is designed to directly address food insecurity and improve access to fresh and healthy food in schools in New York and New England.
“At Hannaford, we strongly believe that our business goes far beyond selling products and that a key component of being ‘greater than groceries’ is investing into the communities we serve. As a community contributor, we have a longstanding commitment to aiding hunger relief in our neighborhoods. This effort often begins at school, where hunger directly impacts a student’s ability to learn, grow and succeed,” said Hannaford Supermarkets Vice President of Retail Operations Todd Bullen. “These food pantries will fulfill a critical need for students and their families. All of us at Hannaford are honored to support the Worcester County Food Bank’s efforts through this donation as we reaffirm our commitment to nourishing our communities, one child at a time.”
“Worcester County Food Bank believes strongly that people should have access to food in their communities and that barriers to that food should be removed whenever possible. This grant from Hannaford allows us to support schools and organizations in Worcester County in a way that brings healthy, nutritious food to students and their families. Access to healthy food reduces stress on students and has been shown to increase school attendance and success. This partnership helps to build healthy students, families, communities and a healthy future,” said Worcester County Food Bank Agency Relations Manager Seana Weaver.
“Athol-Royalston Regional School District is excited to partner with the Worcester County Food Bank to explore placing a food pantry at our high school. Many families across the community are in need of food resources. Our district knows to teach a student; we must first ensure that basic needs are being met, food, clothing, and shelter,” said Athol-Royalston Regional School District Superintendent Darcy Fernandes.
Hannaford Supermarkets has a longstanding commitment to supporting hunger relief in its communities. In 2018, Hannaford donated nearly 26 million pounds of food throughout the Northeast, including 881,000 pounds in Massachusetts; and raised $1.1 million in partnership with its shoppers to feed individuals in need through the annual Hannaford Helps Fight Hunger program. Earlier this month, Hannaford announced that it has donated more than $1 million to non-profits throughout New York and New England as a result of its reusable bag program, a portion of which is dedicated to hunger relief organizations and has funded more than 1.8 million meals to date.
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About Hannaford Supermarkets
Hannaford Supermarkets, based in Scarborough, Maine, operates 182 stores in the Northeast. Stores are located in Maine, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Hannaford employs more than 26,000 associates. Additional information can be found at Hannaford.com.