Supermarket operators throughout the country have pledged donations and begun fund-raising drives to assist in the massive relief effort for victims of the December earthquake and tsunami in southern Asia and eastern Africa.
ate employee contributions, and its foundations (The Kroger Co. Foundation, Ralphs/Food 4 Less Foundation and The Fred Meyer Foundation) will match donations from employees up to a total of $300,000.
Safeway, Pleasanton, Calif., said it had launched a similar campaign in all of its stores in the United States and Canada on Dec. 31, with proceeds slated to go to the Red Cross and to UNICEF. Customers simply tell the cashier what amount they would like added to their grocery bill.
In addition, the Safeway Foundation pledged to match the donations of Safeway employees.
Food Lion, the Salisbury, N.C.-based chain owned by Delhaize, Brussels, Belgium, pledged to donate $50,000 to the Red Cross. Other Delhaize Group companies throughout the world, including Food Lion's sister banner, Hannaford Bros., Scarborough, Maine, also are contributing to disaster relief funds.
Food Lion customers and employees can make cash donations using canisters located at store checkout lanes. The campaign is scheduled to run through Jan. 29.
Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart Stores said its Wal-Mart & Sam's Club Foundation would make an immediate $2 million contribution to the Red Cross in specific support of the tsunami relief efforts. The company will also establish collection points in all of its Wal-Mart stores, supercenters, Neighborhood Markets, Sam's Club and warehouse locations in the United States.
Customers and employees will be able to make cash contributions at marked containers in each store or club, and online at walmart.com and samsclub.com.
In addition, Wal-Mart reduced the cost of wiring money via MoneyGram in its stores to individuals in the region. Wal-Mart also will allow free wire transfers for customers who send an Express Payment to the Red Cross Tsunami Fund.
