Ralphs, Food 4 Less support USO's Operation Phone Home program

LOS ANGELES Two Kroger-owned grocery chains are raising funds for the United Service Organizations to support the nation's military members.

Ralphs and Food 4 Less stores jointly announced that they would be supporting the USO's Operation Phone Home program through their nonprofit arms -- The Ralphs and Food 4 Less Funds. The USO Operation Phone Home fundraising campaign will run through Aug. 14.

Established in 2003, USO Operation Phone Home delivers prepaid international phone cards to deployed service members free of charge. The phone cards are distributed through USO centers both overseas and in the United States, where they are handed out to service members passing through, or are delivered directly to military units. Since the program began, more than 2.2 million phone cards have been distributed.

"We salute our troops and thank them for the sacrifices they make to protect us," said Mike Donnelly, Ralphs president. "Ralphs is delighted to be able to help our troops reach out to their loved ones back home through our support of the USO's Operation Phone Home program."

Last year, Ralphs and Food 4 Less provided more than $8 million in cash and in-kind donations to organizations focused on health, education, the fight against hunger, developing our youth, and the environment.