Publix donates $5 million to Feeding America member food banks

LAKELAND, Fla. — Publix Super Markets Charities announced earlier this week it will donate $5 million to Feeding America member food banks, schools and other nonprofit organizations all focused on alleviating hunger across Publix’s operating area.

The donation will provide funding to assist in the transportation and childhood program needs of the food banks and nonprofit agencies. Over the past three years, Publix Super Market Charities has contributed more than $11.5 million to hunger related programs.



This donation continues Publix Super Markets Charities’ commitment to meeting the basic needs of the communities it serves. Food banks, schools and other nonprofits are in need of funding to support feeding programs such as emergency food boxes, Kids Cafés (program designed to provide free snacks and meals to kids in need at community locations during afterschool hours), school pantries and back pack programs. Refrigerated trucks are also needed to transport perishable items that are donated by food retailers. To help meet these needs, Feeding America and 31 member food banks within their network will receive a gift of $50,000 - $150,000 from the Foundation.



This funding will assist more than 10,700 agencies served by the member food banks.



In related efforts, the Foundation also will give an additional 77 local food banks, 57 back pack programs and 26 school pantries funding to help meet localized community needs. The $5 million donation will benefit a total of 192 nonprofit agencies throughout the Southeast.



“For more than 50 years, we have been nourishing the communities in which Publix operates,” stated Carol Jenkins Barnett, president of Publix Super Markets Charities. “Through these efforts, we’ve supported early education programs and the plight of the hungry and homeless, recognizing the importance of education and proper nutrition. We believe every child deserves to have hope, love and joy. Our Foundation is dedicated to giving these gifts of nourishment and hope to our communities.”