Fareway Stores, Inc. has launched a month-long initiative throughout November aimed at supporting individuals and families facing food insecurity in the Midwest communities served by the grocery chain.
As part of an ongoing commitment to giving back, the Johnston, Iowa-based Fareway said the campaign is designed to help make it easier than ever for customers to help nourish their neighbors. It is enlisting its shoppers to participate in a variety of ways.
Fareway – with several stores across the bistate region – is offering options for customers to join in the fight against hunger. They include:
- Pre-bagged donations: Customers can purchase pre-bagged, wholesome, SNAP-eligible food items at Fareway locations. These bags will be distributed directly to local food banks or pantries near each store.
- Individual item donations: Shoppers also may choose to donate individual food items of their choice.
- Monetary contributions: Every Fareway check stand will accept donations for those who are food insecure. Every dollar raised will go toward purchasing wholesome food products for nearby food banks or pantries.
In addition, Fareway said it will match all monetary contributions throughout the month of November – meaning every dollar donated will go twice as far in helping families facing food insecurity.
“At Fareway, our ‘Lead with Love’ mission is more than a motto – it’s a movement,” Reynolds Cramer, CEO of Fareway Stores, Inc., said in a news release last week. “We’re deeply grateful to our customers who join us in supporting those who need it most. Together, we can make a meaningful difference.”
About the program
Fareway Stores, Inc. currently operates 142 stores in a seven-state region including Iowa and Illinois and employs more than 13,000 people. The family-owned company is recognized as a top 10 employer in Iowa. For more information, visit Fareway.com or shop online by visiting Shop.Fareway.com.
The November campaign comes as funding through the nation’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) ended Saturday, Nov. 1, amid the federal government shutdown. SNAP, commonly known as food stamps, is a federal assistance program. It provides low-income families with monthly benefits to afford healthy food.
Last week, concerns over the de-funding of SNAP took center stage at a River Bend Food Bank news conference at its west Davenport headquarters.
Referencing the 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP nationwide, River Bend President and CEO Chris Ford said “We are all getting concerned about what next week will bring.”
Now entering a second month, the government shutdown marks the longest in the nation’s history. It is impacting many government employees as well as those who rely on government assistance.
