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Southeastern Grocers lets customers donate ‘hunger relief’ bags of groceries

Contributions aimed at replenishing shelves at community food banks

Russell Redman

May 5, 2020

2 Min Read
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Customers at Southeastern Grocers stores can buy $5 bags of non-perishable food to benefit local food banks across the region.Southeastern Grocers

Southeastern Grocers has partnered with Feeding America on a new campaign that enables shoppers to give $5 “hunger relief” bags of groceries to people facing food insecurity amid the coronavirus crisis.

Starting Tuesday, customers at Bi-Lo, Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie locations can buy the $5 bags of non-perishable food at all store registers. The donations will benefit local food banks across the Southeast, which since the COVID-19 outbreak have been scrambling to meet escalating demand. Feeding America reported that nearly 60% of its network food banks are grappling with reduced inventory levels.

The hunger relief bags contain shelf-stable SE Grocers products, including spaghetti, canned green beans, canned corn and boxes of macaroni and cheese. Southeastern Grocers said all of the bags will fulfilled directly from its warehouse and delivered to local food banks, providing a contactless donation for customers and store associates.

Done in tandem with the SEG Gives Foundation, the giving campaign runs through May 15.

“We are committed to fighting hunger and providing food to the communities we serve. At Southeastern Grocers, we believe this responsibility expands outside our doors and into the homes of our neighbors in need,” Anthony Hucker, president and CEO of Southeastern Grocers, said in a statement. “This is why we have created a simple way we can all help replenish food pantry shelves and provide nourishment to those in need. As a community, we are stronger together and will overcome these difficult times by showing kindness to our neighbors.”

Related:Southeastern Grocers picks up grocery tab for ‘community heroes’

To help kick off the program, Pepsi has pledged to donate $25,000 to the campaign, which will provide 5,000 hunger relief bags to Feeding America food banks.

Southeastern Grocers added that, in March, the SEG Gives Foundation donated $250,000 to help Feeding America food banks provide much-needed support to people now grappling with hunger.

“Our charitable food system in the United States is continually facing surges in demand, declines in food donations and volunteers, and disruptions to normal operating procedures, as a result of the COVID-19 crisis,” according to Lauren Biedron, vice president of corporate partnerships at Feeding America. “Never has our network of food banks faced such a tremendous challenge, and we need all the resources we can get to help our neighbors during this unparalleled time.”

Jacksonville, Fla.-based Southeastern Grocers operates 550 supermarkets, as well as liquor stores and in-store pharmacies, in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Related:Easter closing part of Southeastern Grocers’ expanded COVID-19 measures

For our most up-to-date coverage, visit the coronavirus homepage.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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