JACKSONVILLE, Fla. & CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 16, 2011--
Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ: WINN), announced it has joined forces
with Feeding America to launch the Give a Meal program, which gives
Winn-Dixie guests and team members the opportunity to help provide food
to nearly 37 million Americans — including more than 14 million children
— facing hunger this holiday season. Give a Meal runs through Jan. 3 and
is available in all of Winn-Dixie’s 482 stores in Florida, Alabama,
Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. Every $1 donated during the campaign
helps provide eight meals to people in need.
“With one in six American’s facing hunger every day, there is no
business more aligned to help with this cause than Winn-Dixie,” said
Mary Kellmanson, Winn-Dixie's group vice president of marketing.
“Teaming with our guests and team members, along with Feeding America,
we are eager to make a difference and ease some of the pain caused by
hunger in our communities.”
There are three simple ways for Winn-Dixie guests and team members to
support the Give a Meal effort:
1. Donate at the register — this allows guests or team members to make a
$1 or greater donation when purchasing groceries;
2. Donate online at www.winn-dixie.com/giveameal
by charging a donation to a credit card;
3. Purchase Winn-Dixie brand products — through vendor support, when a
guest or team member purchases a designated Winn-Dixie brand product, a
portion of the purchase will be donated to Feeding America.
In addition, some stores will offer prepackaged nonperishables in $5 and
$10 increments that can be donated to the regional food bank immediately
after purchase at marked collection barrels near the store exit.
“The holidays are a perfect time to give a gift that can make a
difference in someone’s life,” said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of
Feeding America. “With Give a Meal, even a small donation will go a long
way in helping make sure that people have something to eat this holiday
season.”
The issue of hunger is especially critical during the holiday season,
when the need is especially acute. The United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) reports that for the third consecutive year, one in
six Americans lives in a household that is food insecure. Among the
nearly 49 million Americans facing hunger, more than 16 million are
children — or 1 in 5 — who are at risk of hunger in this country.
Along with Winn-Dixie, a number of corporate partners, including Bank of
America, Dillard’s, HMSHost and Honey Baked Ham, have joined the effort
with Feeding America to fight hunger this holiday season and support the
Give a Meal campaign.
In addition to corporate sponsors across the country, the campaign also
is being backed by celebrities, such as Rachael Ray, members of
OneRepublic, Curtis Stone, Benji and Joel Madden, Samantha Harris, and
Katie Lee. A running counter will be displayed on the Feeding America
website (www.feedingamerica.org)
to tally the number of meals that have been donated during the campaign.
“Fighting hunger requires a strong partnership between charities,
businesses and individuals alike,” Escarra said. “Hunger is simply one
battle we cannot afford to lose.”
About Feeding America
Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the
fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation's leading domestic
hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 37
million Americans each year, including 14 million children and 3 million
seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food
banks support 61,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms.
For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and
across the country, visit http://www.feedingamerica.org.
Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/FeedingAmerica or
follow our news on Twitter at twitter.com/FeedingAmerica.
About Winn-Dixie
Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc., is one of the nation’s largest food retailers.
Founded in 1925, the Company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla. The
Company currently operates approximately 480 retail grocery locations
and approximately 380 in-store pharmacies in Florida, Alabama,
Louisiana, Georgia and Mississippi. For more information, please visit www.winn-dixie.com.
Source: Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc.
Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc.
Eric Barnes, 904-370-7715
904-571-6052
(cell)
EricBarnes@winn-dixie.com
or
St.
John & Partners
Patrick McSweeney, 904-596-2085
904-923-4871
(cell)
patrickm@sjp.com
or
Feeding
America
Ross Fraser, 312-641-6422
rfraser@feedingamerica.org
