Giant focusing giving efforts on hunger relief this December

To help families in need enjoy a holiday meal, Giant is focusing its giving efforts this season on hunger relief, with donations of 3,000 hams and $35,000 to organizations combatting food insecurity in local communities.

“Sharing a meal together with family and loved ones is often the focal point of holiday celebrations, but too many families in our communities struggle to put food on the table,” said John Ruane, president of Giant. 

Ruane added, “The Giant Company is proud to again partner with our food bank and hunger relief partners to help meet the increased demand they are facing, both now and year-round, and help families in need enjoy a holiday meal together.”

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To ensure families have a holiday staple at their table, Giant is contributing 3,000 hams to 15 food banks and pantries across its operating area this month, including the following hunger relief partners:

Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, Verona, Va.

Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, Harrisburg, Pa.

Chester County Food Bank, Exton, Pa.

CityTeam Chester, Chester, Pa.

Helping Harvest Fresh Food Bank, Reading, Pa.

Indiana County Community Action Program, Indiana, Pa.

Lancaster County Food Hub, Lancaster, Pa.

Manna on Main Street, Lansdale, Pa.

Maryland Food Bank, Hagerstown, Md.

New Britain Baptist Church, Doylestown, Pa.

Philabundance, Philadelphia, Pa.

Second Harvest Food Bank, Nazareth, Pa.

Shelter Services, Lewistown, Pa.

St. Vincent DePaul Society of St. Catherine of Siena, Horsham, Pa.

York County Food Bank, York, Pa.

[Read more: Giant releases community impact report]

The following organizations also will each receive $5,000, for a total donation of $35,000, from Giant to expand their food distribution efforts within their local communities for the holidays and beyond:

Christ Lutheran Church – REACH Community Meals, LaVale, Md.

Community Markets, Charles Town, W. Va.

Friends of the Poor, Scranton, Pa.

Garden of Health, North Wales, Pa.

HANNA’s Pantry, Harrisburg, Pa.

Hazelton Integration Project, Hazelton, Pa.

Neighbor to Neighbor Community Development Corp., Sharon Hill, Pa.

 "Community Markets Inc. is excited to partner with Giant to feed food insecure families on the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia,” said Mark Peiffer, program manager at Community Markets. “This donation will be used by Community Markets to purchase healthy food from the local Martin’s store which will be distributed to hungry Appalachian families in our community at an upcoming Food Box Giveaway. CMI is grateful for the investment made by Giant in our community."

Customers also can join Giant to make a difference this holiday season. At any Giant, Martin’s or Giant Heirloom Market store, from Dec. 8 through 24, customers can donate free ham certificates at the register in-store or donate 400 CHOICE points online, for which Giant will make a $10 donation at a local food bank. In addition, in all stores, customers can round up their purchase at checkout to benefit their local food bank or pantry or purchase reusable bags to benefit Feeding America.