Meijer partners with local food banks with Simply Give program

Michigan-based retailer Meijer has a mission to fight hunger in the communities they serve. This round of the company’s thrice-annual Simply Give program will raise money to benefit seven local food banks through partnerships with the seven Lansing-area Meijer locations.

"Great Lansing area Meijer stores, its customers and team members provided $30,000 in Simply Give donations for 2010,” says Frank J. Guglielmi, Director of Public Relations for Meijer." Company-wide, the program has donated more than $1.6 million to local food pantries since 2008.

One such partnership is between The Old Town Commercial Association and the West Saginaw Meijer to benefit the 2011 Compassionate Feast. Compassionate Feast has provided needy families with a complete Thanksgiving meal for the ten years. The program, which relies entirely on donations and volunteer time, provided food to 200 families in 2010.

Each year, Simply Give pairs each local Meijer location to benefit a local charity that addresses hunger like the OTCA’s Compassionate Feast. Other 2011 partnerships include the Okemos Meijer and Haven House Food Pantry and the East Lansing Meijer and St. John’s Church Food Cupboard.

Simply Give runs through May 14 and asks Meijer shoppers to purchase a $10 Meijer Food Pantry Donation Card in the stores, as well as the food bank locations. The $10 donations will be matched by Meijer.

"Meijer works hard to support the communities where our customers and team members work and live,” says Guglielmi."

Source: Frank J. Guglielmi, Meijer

Writer: Natalie Burg, News Editor