Southeastern Grocers launches low-cost meal program

Southeastern Grocers is debuting a brand-new program aimed at providing accessible and healthy meal options to ensure no child goes hungry.

The Jacksonville, Fla.-based retailer, the parent company to Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie, launched its Break from Hunger program, which provides customers and associates, who are aged 17 years old and younger, the option to purchase a specially prepared student summer lunch pack meal box for just $2.

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“The challenges that our communities have faced during these past few years have magnified the struggle of many families to feed their children during the summer months,” said Raymond Rhee, chief people officer at Southeastern Grocers.

Included in the boxes are a ham or turkey sandwich, chips, fresh fruit and a bottle of water. Customers can request a student summer lunch pack from the deli at any of its banners. For each purchase of a meal, the retailer will also donate $1 to Feeding America.

“Through our ‘Break from Hunger’ program and continued partnership with Feeding America, we aim to provide children with the nutritious food they need for a healthy life,” Rhee said. “We want to do everything we can to get food on the tables of our neighbors who need a helping hand — now more than ever.”

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The end goal is for the company to donate the equivalent of 1 million meals to the community through a partnership with Feeding America network food banks, the retailer said.