Southeastern Grocers, Inc. (SEG), parent company and home of BI-LO, Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, together with the SEG Gives Foundation, is proud to announce the donation of nearly 258,000 $5 hunger relief bags to Feeding America. The more than $1.28 million worth of food will help provide meals to neighbors throughout the Southeast who are facing hunger due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The donation was made possible through generous customer and associate donations received during Southeastern Grocers’ in-store hunger relief program that took place from May 5-15 at all store registers. The program gave customers the opportunity to help neighbors in need by purchasing a contactless $5 hunger relief bag containing non-perishable food items such as spaghetti, canned green beans, canned corn and boxes of macaroni & cheese.

Anthony Hucker, President and CEO of Southeastern Grocers, said, “We are grateful for the giving hearts of our customers and associates who recognize the needs in our communities and are able to make an impact in meaningful ways. With this donation, we are providing support to our local food pantries, nourishment to individuals in need and providing hope to our neighbors during these difficult times. As a community, we are stronger together.”

Lauren Biedron, Vice President of Corporate Partnerships at Feeding America, said, “The Feeding America network of food banks serves children, families and seniors who are facing hunger every day, but right now the need is at an all-time high. We are so very thankful for the donation from Southeastern Grocers and its customers. With this donation we will have the opportunity to help provide more food to our neighbors across the U.S.”

Through customer donations and a generous contribution of $25,000 from Pepsi, a total of 5,000 hunger relief bags will be provided to Feeding America member food banks. All contactless hunger relief bags will be fulfilled directly from the Southeastern Grocers warehouse and delivered to local food banks throughout the communities where the donations were made to directly benefit each generous customer’s local neighbors in need.

Rich Panner, Vice President of PepsiCo Beverages North America, South Division, said, “We are honored to support Southeastern Grocers on this campaign to help alleviate hunger in the communities we serve.”

Southeastern Grocers has a longstanding partnership with Feeding America and the communities it serves. In addition to this donation of more than $1.28 million worth of shelf-stable food from the nearly 258,000 $5 hunger relief bags, the SEG Gives Foundation donated $250,000 to Feeding America in March to help its network of food banks urgently provide much-needed support to people currently facing hunger. Throughout the partnership, Southeastern Grocers has donated millions of meals* to neighbors in need as part of the grocer’s continued efforts to alleviate hunger across the Southeast.