BJ's Wholesale Club Announces $100,000 Grant to FeedMore
Grant will help secure, store and distribute fresh, healthy food to people facing hunger
RICHMOND, Va., Aug. 29, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- BJ's Wholesale Club today announced a $100,000 donation from the BJ's Charitable Foundation to FeedMore, a Feeding America® member food bank located in Central Virginia. The donation will help FeedMore's network of partner agencies increase their capacity to distribute perishable food across the region.
BJ's grant to FeedMore is part of BJ's Charitable Foundation's $1 million donation to Feeding America, the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization. FeedMore is one of nine local food banks to benefit from BJ's $1 million donation, which is the foundation's largest single donation to any organization to date.
"BJ's is bringing a fresh approach to nourishing communities and helping families thrive, and we're proud to support FeedMore," said Kirk Saville, executive director of the BJ's Charitable Foundation. "No one should have to worry about where to get their next meal, and we know that food banks face challenges in storing and distributing perishable foods. Our strategic partnership with Feeding America is focused on building capacity for fresh food at local food banks so we can work together to put an end to hunger in our communities."
With BJ's $100,000 grant, FeedMore will purchase equipment, including freezers, refrigerators, and an external refrigerated storage unit to expand its cold storage capacity and increase the distribution of perishable foods. Additionally, FeedMore will use the grant to purchase a refrigerated truck for one of its partner agencies, which will increase the agency's ability to accept more perishable food and safely transport it.
In total, FeedMore's programs and network of more than 300 partner agencies provide more than 52,000 meals each day to neighbors in need across 34 counties and cities across Central Virginia. From the Northern Neck to Louisa County and south to the North Carolina border, FeedMore distributed 19.2 million meals last year through its programs and partners to Central Virginians who face hunger.
"One in seven Central Virginians is food insecure, meaning that nearly 200,000 of our neighbors are not receiving the necessary nutrition," said Doug Pick, Chief Executive Officer at FeedMore. "Because of BJ's generous donation, FeedMore will be able to provide our neighbors in need with healthy meals, nourishment and hope for a better tomorrow."
Since 2009, BJ's has provided ongoing support to Feeding America through the BJ's Charitable Foundation and BJ's Feeding Communities® program, helping local food banks successfully expand their programs to reach wider and more diverse audiences.
In addition to capacity building grants from the BJ's Charitable Foundation, BJ's has secured over 50 million pounds of donated food, including fresh produce, frozen meats and fish, baked goods and dairy items through the BJ's Feeding Communities® program.
About BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc.
Headquartered in Westborough, Massachusetts, BJ's is the leading operator of membership warehouse clubs in the Eastern United States. The company currently operates 215 clubs and 132 BJ's Gas® locations in 16 states.
BJ's provides a one-stop shopping destination filled with top-quality, leading brands, including its exclusive Wellsley Farms® and Berkley Jensen® brands, along with USDA Choice meats, premium produce and delicious organics, many in supermarket sizes. BJ's is also the only major membership warehouse club to accept all manufacturers' coupons and, for greater convenience, offers the most payment options.
Visit www.BJs.com, and for exclusive content find us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.
BJ's is wholly owned by affiliates of Leonard Green & Partners, CVC Capital Partners and its management team.
About FeedMore
FeedMore is Central Virginia's core hunger-relief organization dedicated to providing neighbors in need with healthy meals and hope for a better tomorrow. With a service area that stretches across 34 cities and counties, FeedMore helps the nearly 200,000 children, families, and seniors in Central Virginia who struggle with hunger. Working to efficiently and effectively fight hunger, FeedMore's multi-tiered approach, comprehensive programs and network of more than 300 partner agencies are dedicated to providing neighbors who face hunger with one of the most basic necessities: nourishment. For additional information, please visit FeedMore.org, find us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
About Feeding America®
Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, we provide meals to more than 46 million people each year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry.
SOURCE BJ's Wholesale Club
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