SpartanNash to distribute free N95 masks
SpartanNash announced that starting Feb. 7, guests will be able to pick up three complimentary N95 masks at pharmacies inside its corporate-owned grocery stores.
In addition, the company is distributing nearly 400,000 masks to support non-profit partners in high-transmission areas and socially vulnerable communities.
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These mask distribution efforts are part of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' program to curb the spread of COVID-19 and correlate to SpartanNash’s broader stewardship of social issues and alignment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The program supports the company’s commitment to UN SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being, along with other initiatives to ensure that customers, associates, and the communities in which SpartanNash operates have the nourishing food, healthcare and quality health education and tools necessary to promote long and healthy lives, the company said.
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“We are proud that our robust supply chain network is being leveraged to distribute the largest deployment of personal protective equipment in U.S. history,” said SpartanNash president and CEO Tony Sarsam. “We are also grateful for the role our SpartanNash Associates continue to play in serving our customers throughout COVID-19. Offering these masks is one more way we can do our part to keep our guests healthy as we respond to the ongoing challenges associated with this pandemic.”
Select SpartanNash stores with pharmacies in eight states are participating, primarily under the banners Family Fare, Martin's Super Markets, VG's Grocery, D&W Fresh Market, Family Fresh Market and Forest Hills Foods. Each of the 84 pharmacy locations will distribute up to three masks per person, while supplies last. Guests can pick up their masks by going directly to the pharmacy counter within each store. Additionally, SpartanNash has arranged for nearly 400,000 N95 masks to be delivered to Mary Free Bed, Special Olympics Michigan, Feeding America West Michigan, Food Bank of Eastern Michigan and the Salvation Army.
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“Beyond hunger, SpartanNash’s concern for public health has now prompted a donation of these N95 masks for distribution to those in need in our communities,” said Kara Ross, president and CEO of Food Bank of Eastern Michigan. “These masks will be arriving in our warehouses soon and made available to the public through mobile distributions hosted by agencies in our hunger relief network. The Food Bank sincerely appreciates SpartanNash’s forethought in obtaining these masks and making them available to our neighbors in need.”