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Publix donates $125,000 to Treasure Coast Food Bank

Publix continues work to help neighbors in need with 33M pounds of produce  donated to Feeding America member food banks 

Publix Super Markets Charities donates $5.5M in monetary support  LAKELAND, Fla., Sept. 13, 2021 — During Hunger Action Month®, Publix is highlighting the  many ways the company helps alleviate hunger year-round. According to Feeding America®,  1 in 9 Americans face food insecurity, and within Publix’s seven-state operating area, more than  8 million people face hunger every day. As a food retailer, Publix is committed to helping feed  those in need in the communities it serves. 

“Having food on the table is an essential need that millions of people throughout our  communities struggle with every day. As a food retailer, helping provide nourishing meals to our  neighbors in need is at the heart of who we are,” said Publix CEO Todd Jones. “It is our  privilege to join our customers in helping to alleviate hunger and do good together for our  communities.” 

Since April 2020, Publix has donated more than 33 million pounds of produce to Feeding  America member food banks through its farmers and families initiative and Feeding More  Together campaign. Through the farmers and families initiative launched last year, the company  purchased and donated more than 18 million pounds of produce and 500,000 gallons of milk to  Feeding America member food banks. Publix purchased this produce and milk from  Southeastern farmers who lost business as schools and restaurants closed due to the pandemic. 

When Publix heard food banks were facing a critical food shortage with increased  demand as the holidays approached last December, the company launched a six-week program to  support six of Florida’s largest food banks. Through this program, Publix donated nearly 1.2 million pounds of pasta, canned vegetables, canned beans, cereal and boxed potatoes. The six  participating Feeding America member food banks collectively serve 46 counties in Florida.

Publix continued its hunger alleviation efforts by launching its Feeding More Together  campaign this March. This program allowed customers to donate at the register to purchase nonperishable food items for local food banks. Publix then matched customer donations by  purchasing an equivalent dollar value of fresh produce, which was donated to Feeding America  member food banks. The first Feeding More Together campaign raised nearly $5 million in  customer donations. The Feeding More Together program will run again this fall, Nov. 4 – 15. 

Additionally, every day in stores, associates gather much-needed wholesome, but  unsalable dairy, deli and meat items as well as produce to donate to food banks throughout the  company’s seven-state operating area. In 2019, Publix announced the company had donated  more than $2 billion through its food recovery program and pledged an additional $2 billion in  food donations by 2030.  

During September, Publix Super Markets Charities will donate $5.5 million to  300 Feeding America member food banks and other nonprofit organizations as part of their  ongoing support to alleviate hunger and help local communities within Publix’s operating area. 

“So many of our neighbors continue to struggle with having enough food to eat, but  together, we can help change that,” said Kelly Williams-Puccio, executive director of Publix  Super Markets Charities. “We are proud to continue our commitment of providing hope through  nourishment for our neighbors in need.” 

“Since the start of the pandemic, we have seen an increase in the number of people  turning to Feeding America member food banks for help, many of them for the first time,” said  Feeding America CEO Claire Babineaux-Fontenot. “We are incredibly grateful to Publix and  Publix Super Markets Charities for finding new, innovative ways to help serve our neighbors and  for their long-standing commitment to alleviating hunger.” 

Visit publix.com/hunger to learn more about Publix’s hunger relief efforts, see how you  can help alleviate hunger in your community and see a list of Feeding America member food  bank donation recipients. 

About Publix Super Markets 

Publix, the largest employee-owned company in the U.S. with more than 225,000  associates, currently operates 1,282 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South 

Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. For 24 consecutive years, the company has been  recognized by Fortune as a great place to work. In addition, Publix’s dedication to superior  quality and customer service is recognized among the top in the grocery business. For more  information, visit the company’s website, corporate.publix.com. 

About Publix Super Markets Charities  

George Jenkins, founder of Publix Super Markets and affectionately known as “Mr.  George,” believed in giving. From the day he opened his first Publix, he made sure his  associates, customers and community were taken care of. In 1966, Mr. George established the  Foundation with the vision it would continue giving long after he was gone. Publix Super  Markets Charities remains committed to serving the communities in which Publix operates. To  learn more, visit publixcharities.org.  

About Feeding America 

Feeding America is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a  network of nearly 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, we provide  meals to more than 40 million people each year. Feeding America also supports programs that  prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public  about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going  hungry. To learn more, visit feedingamerica.org.

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