Albertsons Cos. kicks off 'Feed Our Kids. Fuel Our Future' program

Albertsons Cos. wants to make kids start the day with a healthy breakfast.

Through the end of September, Albertsons Cos. stores will raise money through “Hunger Is” to battle childhood hunger. Shoppers at Albertsons Cos.'s banners, including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Star Market, Tom Thumb, Randalls, ACME and other stores can donate at checkout to the cause. All donations stay in the communities in which they’re raised, helping local hunger relief programs.

The “Hunger Is” initiative is part of Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons Cos.’s long-standing commitment to hunger relief. In the last four years the company has donated nearly $1 billion in food to food banks and other hunger relief agencies in addition to hundreds of tons of food contributed through local and regional food drives.

Since 2014, Albertsons Cos. have raised $30.2 million for 200,000 children in need.

“The theme for this year’s campaign is ‘Feed Our Kids. Fuel Our Future.’ It reflects the promise that an investment in children’s nutrition and health is an investment in the future of our communities,” Albertsons Cos. Foundation President and Executive Director Christy Duncan Anderson said.

Partnering with Albertsons Cos. on the effort are 146 food banks, pantries and other charities that will receive “Hunger Is” grants to ensure that local kids start the day with a healthy meal. Each store adopts one of their local charities and focuses its efforts on that organization’s specific needs.

For example, several stores in Idaho are supporting the Idaho Foodbank Warehouse Inc.’s Backpack and School Pantry programs. The program provides public school students with weekend backpacks full of food so the kids can eat consistently throughout weekends, while the School Pantry program serves students and their families with full-service pantries on school grounds.