Hy-Vee Helps Raise Over $295,000 to Help Feed Iowa & Midwest Families
Another school year has arrived, and along with it comes the familiar scramble to get everything ready. Will the prices of back-to-school items keep climbing? Clothes, shoes, backpacks, calculators and all the other things that find their way onto a school supply list can add up quickly. This year, my daughter's calculator alone cost around $150, and that is just one item on the list.
While those extra back-to-school expenses come around every year, the cost of everyday necessities doesn't let up either. Families still have groceries, housing, utilities, fuel, and all the other regular bills to worry about. For families already struggling to cover their daily needs, the added expense of preparing their kids for a new school year can be especially difficult.
That is why campaigns like Hy-Vee's latest community food drive could not come at a better time. As families across the Midwest get their children ready to head back to the classroom, Hy-Vee is helping local food banks and pantries provide some much-needed support to families who are having a hard time keeping food on the table. The grocery chain has raised more than $295,000 through its recent Back-to-School Community Food Drive, with the money going to food assistance organizations across the Midwest.
The campaign ran from August 15th through the 23rd and gave customers several ways to contribute. Shoppers could round up their purchases at checkout, purchase $5 or $10 food donation bags, donate online, or even bring food items directly to their local Hy-Vee store.
In total, the campaign generated $295,935.47 in monetary donations. That figure includes a $100,000 contribution from Hy-Vee. Customers generosity nearly doubled that initial pledge from Hy-Vee, pouring in over $195,000 in support!
Each Hy-Vee store selected a local food pantry or food bank to receive support from the campaign. That local approach allows the donations to reach organizations that are already working with families and children in their own communities.
The timing of the campaign is especially important as families across the country continue to face food insecurity. Hy-Vee pointed to estimates showing that about one in five children nationwide experience food insecurity, making access to reliable meals an ongoing concern for many households.
As students return to classrooms, the need for food assistance can become even more visible. School meals may provide the only source of nutrition for many children, meaning families need access to food outside of school hours. Hy-Vee's latest campaign helps to support the communities where its stores operate, with a goal is to ensure families have the resources they need when budgets are already stretched.
For local food pantries and food banks, contributions like these provide additional resources when demand is high. This is also a testament to our area communities; Hy-Vee customers again went above and beyond to help their neighbors while filling their own carts.
Hy-Vee is based in West Des Moines and reports annual sales of more than $14 billion, while employing more than 70,000 people. The more than $295,000 raised through the Back-to-School Community Food Drive represents a combined effort from local shoppers, employees, area food organizations, and the company itself. As the new school year gets underway, those contributions are headed back to our communities, helping families put food on the table.