Giant/Martin’s launches Bag Hunger campaign with $155K donation to area food banks
CARLISLE, Pa. — Giant Food Stores and Martin’s Food Markets on Friday began their hunger-relief campaign Bag Hunger with a one-day donation in partnership with 31 food banks in Pennsylvania and Maryland. The company donated a total of $155,000 in gift cards to help organizations provide meals to those in need.
Giant/Martin’s president Tom Lenkevich delivered gift card donations on behalf of the company to five hunger relief organizations at the Giant in Enola, Pa. The five organizations were Cathedral Paris of St. Patrick, Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, Perry County Food Bank, Project SHARE and Salvation Army Harrisburg Capital Region, who each received $5,000. Similar donations took place at 26 other Giant/Martin’s locations.
“During this time of the year when donations aren’t as robust, we wanted to make sure that our food bank partners could immediately restock their shelves with the basics,” said Lenkevich. “This GIANT One-Day Give kicks off our Bag Hunger in-store donation campaign, where our customers and associates donate so generously to help our neighbors in need.”
Now through March 11, Giant/Martin’s customers can donate to their local food bank during checkout through the Bag Hunger in-store campaign. Last year the campaign raised $550,888. Central Pennsylvania Food Bank said that $1 is enough to provide six meals to people who depend on its services.
Giant/Martin’s has been committed to supporting the communities it serves, particularly in fighting hunger. IN 2016, Giant/Martin’s donated more than $12 million to some 100 hunger-relief agencies through customer, vendor and corporate support.
The full list of organizations supported is:
Allentown Area Ecumenical Food Bank, Allentown, Pa.
Bloomsburg Food Cupboard, Bloomsburg, Pa.
Cathedral Parish of St. Patrick, Harrisburg, Pa.
Catholic Social Services Inc., Hazleton, Pa.
Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, Harrisburg Pa.
Coatesville Community Food Co-Op, Coatesville, Pa.
Elijah’s Bowl (First Presbyterian Church), Sunbury, Pa.
Food Bank of State College, State College, Pa.
Friend, Inc. Food Pantry, Kutztown, Pa.
Fulton County Food Basket, McConnellsburg, Pa.
God’s Meal Barrel, Hanover, Pa.
Hanover Area Council of Churches, Hanover, Pa.
Huntingdon Area Food Pantry, Huntingdon, Pa.
ICCAP, Indiana, Pa.
The Kennedy House, Reading, Pa.
Kennett Area Community Service Food Cupboard, Kennett Square, Pa.
Kings Kettle Food Pantry, Shippensburg, Pa.
Mount Joy Community Food Bank, Mount Joy, Pa.
Nazareth Area Food Bank, Nazareth, Pa.
New Jerusalem Church Food Bank, Bethlehem, Pa.
Perry County Food Bank, New Bloomfield, Pa.
Phoenixville Area Community Services, Phoenixville, Pa.
Project SHARE, Carlisle, Pa.
Ray of Hope Mission Center, Port Deposit, MD
Salvation Army Capitol Region, Harrisburg, Pa.
Salvation Army West Chester, West Chester, Pa.
Shared Services/Shelter Services, Lewistown, Pa.
St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen, Scranton, Pa.
St. Vincent DePaul Assumption Chapel Food Pantry, Altoona, Pa.
St. Vincent DePaul Society of St. Catherine of Siena, Horsham, Pa.
West Chester Food Cupboard, West Chester, Pa.