The Giant Co. says its Feeding School Kids initiative, in partnership with its customers, raised more than $1.5 million to combat hunger throughout local public school districts in the communities it serves.
“Together with our customers and team members, we have raised more than $7.5 million over the past four years through Feeding School Kids to address food insecurity in our local public school districts,” Jennifer Scott, chief of staff and director of community relations and charitable giving for The Giant Co., said in a news release. “School food programs are crucial in ensuring that all children can focus on learning and not where their next meal may come from.”
From Jan. 1 through March 31, customers at Giant, Martin's and Giant Heirloom Market stores were invited to round up their grocery purchases to the nearest dollar or convert their Choice points into a donation to support their local public school districts’ food programs. The Giant Co. says it also donated $100,000 to the program.
Through Feeding School Kids, public school districts have been able to support meal programs and address food insecurity from supplying backpacks with weekend food to clearing outstanding student lunch debt to building on-campus food pantries and establishing garden programs.
“The money raised through Feeding School Kids will provide crucial support by ensuring students have access to extra food for weekends this summer which helps address food insecurity,” Mike Embly, director, food and nutrition services for Washington County Public Schools in Maryland, said in the release. “Additionally, the money will help alleviate meal debt, ensuring that all students can enjoy nutritious meals without financial barriers, fostering a healthier and more inclusive school environment.”
The top 15 funding amounts to public school districts from the Feeding School Kids initiative include:
- The School District of Philadelphia — $81,187.
- West Chester Area School District, Exton, Pa. — $45,409.
- Washington County Public Schools, Hagerstown, Md. — $28,113.
- Frederick County Public Schools, Winchester, Va. — $25,259.
- North Penn School District, Lansdale, Pa. — $24,775.
- Central Bucks School District, Doylestown, Pa. — $22,184.
- Central Dauphin School District, Harrisburg, Pa. — $21,500.
- State College Area School District, State College, Pa. — $19,996.
- Winchester Public Schools, Winchester, Va. — $19,659.
- Berkeley County School District, Martinsburg, W.Va. — $19,229.
- Bethlehem Area School District, Bethlehem, Pa. — $18,729.
- The School District of Haverford Township, Havertown, Pa. — $18,608.
- Centennial School District, Warminster, Pa. — $18,467.
- Carlisle Area School District, Carlisle, Pa. — $18,247.
- Mechanicsburg Area School District, Mechanicsburg, Pa. — $16,334.
Funds donated by customers benefitted the local public school district in the community in which they were given. The Giant Co.’s matching funds were awarded based on need, as determined by the percentage of students in the district who receive free or reduced-price meals.
Related link: More about The Giant Co.'s efforts to combat hunger