Mohawk Valley Safe Schools 
YMCA Greater Tri Valley
Donation part of overall $400,000 commitment from Hannaford to support expanded childcare programs during the pandemic
Utica, NY – Hannaford Supermarkets and the Hannaford Charitable Foundation today jointly announced $50,000 in donations to support virtual learning and after-school programs for Mohawk Valley families impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The donation includes $25,000 each to Safe Schools Mohawk Valley in Utica and YMCA of the Greater Tri-Valley, serving Rome, Oneida and New Hartford, which will each use the funding to provide in-person and virtual programs for students learning in a remote environment, including full-time care while their caregivers are at work, as well as academic and mental support.
The Mohawk Valley funding is one component of an overall $400,000 commitment from Hannaford to support expanded childcare programs for working families across New York and New England during the pandemic.
“As our schedules, commitments and priorities have shifted over the last 10 months, so have the needs of working families in our community,” said Hannaford Charitable Foundation Board Member Peter Forester, who also serves as senior vice president of merchandising for the grocery retailer. “The organizations benefiting from this donation provide parents and caregivers with the peace of mind and security that their children are being cared for in a safe, healthy and supportive environment. We applaud these organizations for their ability to pivot their services to meet the needs of families during this challenging time.”
Safe Schools Mohawk Valley will use the $25,000 donation from Hannaford to host virtual activities and mentoring opportunities for teens requiring support in the remote learning environment, including helping them navigate virtual platforms. The programs also provide a support network for students dealing with feelings of isolation and anxiety spurred by the pandemic.
“We are truly grateful for this very generous donation from Hannaford,” said Safe Schools Mohawk Valley CEO Anne Lansing. “This past year has been difficult beyond words on students and families. This donation comes at a time when we need to be lifted up, continuing to help the community in coming together and finding creative ways to support our youth. We greatly appreciate Hannaford’s investment in our us and our community.”
The $25,000 grant from Hannaford to the YMCA of the Greater Tri-Valley will be used to support a full-day virtual learning program for children with working parents. The program offers students a safe and supervised space to learn remotely with support from designated learning coaches.
“I am eternally grateful for Hannaford’s support of our YMCA and in particular our essential child care programs, especially at this critical time in our history,” said YMCA of the Greater Tri-Valley CEO Hank Leo. “We were devastated by Covid-19. Our recovery has been fueled by the generous support of our community partners, which now includes Hannaford, allowing us to bridge the gap and return to our mission. It is our goal to come out of the pandemic stronger than ever before.”
Safe Schools Mohawk Valley works to keep kids in school by reducing barriers to learning while supporting their social and emotional well-being. The YMCA of the Greater Tri-Valley serves the greater Rome, Oneida and New Hartford areas with programs and services for the whole family.
About Hannaford Supermarkets
Hannaford Supermarkets, based in Scarborough, Maine, operates 184 stores in the Northeast. Stores are located in Maine, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Hannaford employs more than 27,000 associates. Additional information can be found at Hannaford.com.
About the Hannaford Charitable Foundation
The mission of the Hannaford Charitable Foundation is to invest in creating and sustaining healthy communities through providing support to non-profit programs that focus on the improvement of the root causes impacting the quality of life for our neighbors, customers and associates. Founded in 1994, the Foundation has given over $14 million to organizations in the New England region.