Save-A-Lot, one of the nation’s leading hard discount, edited assortment grocery chains, recently announced a $10,000 grant to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida’s Mobile Pantry program which will reach more than 700 local families who lack sufficient food. Collectively the Central Florida sites will provide more than 40,000 meals.
To announce and celebrate the newly awarded grant, Save-A-Lot employees worked along side Orange County Public School volunteers to distribute product at Evans High School during a well-attended Mobile Pantry delivery. More than 300 households received items like fresh fruit, vegetables, protein and dairy products. Approximately, 12,000 individual items – equaling more than 10,000 pounds – were distributed to food insecure Pine Hills families.
“With 49 million Americans struggling to put food on the table, we know access to food is imperative,” said Santiago Roces, President and CEO of Save-A-Lot food stores. “By working with Feeding America and its network of food banks like Second Harvest, we are able to reduce some of the stress and barriers associated with accessing fresh, quality meals on a consistent basis. ”
Save-A-Lot also made donations to Mobile Pantry programs in Miami, Tampa, Philadelphia and St. Louis.
Mobile pantries are dry or refrigerated vehicles that allow food banks to supply food to food-insecure individuals in areas that are underserved by traditional emergency food agencies. Mobile pantries are extending service into regions that the food bank hadn’t before been able to reach. On average, each mobile pantry delivers 7,500 pounds per distribution; and one vehicle delivers 900,000 pounds of food per year.
“Save-A-Lot has been a dedicated partner in the fight against hunger throughout the state of Florida and beyond,” said Dave Krepcho, president and CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank. “By engaging its associates and customers in mobile pantry distribution, Save-A-Lot is bringing attention to the issue of food deserts while bringing fresh, nutritious food to families in locations that are underserved by traditional food-assistance agencies.”
Clients may receive fresh fruit, vegetables, protein and dairy products that are especially important for good nutrition and often missing from the diets of families facing food insecurity. Much of the success of mobile pantries is from volunteers, and the donated food received from companies like Save-A-Lot. Store associates will also be onsite throughout the year to provide much needed support in delivering the food to our clients in need.
