The Salvation Army of Jackson County has announced a partnership with Meijer to provide much-needed relief to local families facing food insecurity through the retailer’s customer-driven hunger relief program, Simply Give at the 3333 E. Michigan Avenue Meijer store.
“With community demand for our food assistance up by 50% since the COVID-19 pandemic began last March we are placing a priority on meeting this need. To do this we rely on the generosity and compassion of our many community partners to help us meet this need. No individual or family in our community should ever have to go hungry. We are very grateful for Meijer’s partnership” said – Major Jose Tamayo, Corps Officer.
Each Meijer Simply Give campaign replenishes the shelves of more than 250 food pantries in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Wisconsin. The program encourages customers to purchase $10 Simply Give donation cards, which are then converted into Meijer food-only gift cards and given to a local food pantry in the store’s community.
The Salvation Army of Jackson County’s Food Bank will benefit from donation cards purchased at the 3333 E. Michigan Avenue Meijer store in Jackson February 14 through April 10. In addition, Meijer will double match any cards purchased on Saturday, March 13, and Saturday, April 3, effectively tripling contributions made on those days. Meijer customers shopping online using Meijer pickup or home delivery can also purchase Simply Give donation cards as an add-on to their orders.
Considering the increased need resulting from COVID-19, Meijer donated more than $7.6 million to Simply Give food pantry partners in 2020. Since the program began in November 2008, more than $61 million has been generated for food pantries in the Midwest to distribute to our neighbors in need.
“The winter months are a difficult time for people facing food insecurity and food pantries continue to struggle to keep up with the flood of requests they receive daily, especially given the difficult circumstances many families now face amidst the global pandemic,” said Cathy Cooper, Senior Director of Community Partnerships and Giving for Meijer. “The Simply Give program is a way for Meijer customers to partner with us and support the food banks and pantries that feed families in need in their own communities. We certainly couldn’t do it without the support and commitment of our generous customers and team members, who stand beside us in this effort.”
“The events of this year have taught us all the importance of community members supporting each other,” said Brad Patterson, Development Director. “We encourage community members to help us feed their neighbors facing food insecurity in Jackson County this winter by purchasing a Meijer Simply Give food donation card during their next shopping trip.”
The Salvation Army of Jackson County has been in operation since 1885. Essential services include: Utility Assistance, Food Pantry, Housing Assistance, Referrals and Long-Term Antipoverty Case Management. Last year over 18,000 individuals were provided food assistance.