Kroger Central Division: Launches Hunger Action Month With $275,000 Donation (Indianapolis)

Funds to support services of Gleaners Food Bank

Kroger Central Division begins Hunger Action Month announcing a pair of contributions to Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana. The donations, worth a combined total of $275,000, will help Gleaners fulfill its mission across central Indiana. They also represent another extension of Kroger’s Zero Hunger | Zero Waste plan in the state.

“Zero Hunger | Zero Waste is the centerpiece of Kroger’s social and environmental impact plan,” said Eric Halvorson, the division’s Manager of Corporate Affairs. “In 2017, Kroger designed the plan to provide meals to hungry Hoosiers and hungry people across the country, ultimately directing more than three billion meals to such families by 2025. We should note as we begin Hunger Action Month, our plan is to provide not just more food, but more fresh and nutritious food. Partners such as Gleaners make that possible.”

The largest contribution is a $150,000 grant from The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation, which the food bank will use to purchase a new refrigerated truck. “As Gleaners works to distribute record amounts of food to our neighbors, we’re highly focused on the nutritional value of the food we’re offering,” said Gleaners President/CEO John Elliott. “The complexity of our work puts significant strain on our aging fleet. Thanks to another generous gift from our long-term partners and generous customers at Kroger, we’ll have a new refrigerated truck on the road, taking nutritious, healthy foods to neighbors throughout our 21-county service area.”

The second Kroger contribution, $125,000, is being issued as a matching gift challenge as Gleaners kicks off Hunger Action Month at its Leadership Luncheon marking the retirement of Elliott and the transition to Fred Glass as leader of Gleaners.

“During Hunger Action Month, we encourage everyone to get involved in some way to help us lead the fight against hunger,” said Elliott. “Thanks to Kroger, donations made during September will have double the impact. This matching gift challenge could not have come at a more crucial time as we see need increasing week by week and food costs going up for both Gleaners and our neighbors.”

In the first four years of Zero Hunger | Zero Waste, Kroger donated 1.8 billion meals to communities, provided $1.2 billion in charitable giving, and drove a 20% reduction in retail food waste. “With more than 1 million Hoosiers in need of food assistance, Kroger remains committed to its goals, striving to improve food access and create communities free of hunger. We proudly do that in support of essential partners such as Gleaners,” Halvorson said.

About Kroger Central Division:
Kroger Central Division operates food stores, pharmacies and fuel centers in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Ohio. We are dedicated to Kroger’s Purpose: to Feed the Human Spirit™ and to create #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities by 2025.