Kroger's Summer Celebration of Military Service Members Continues

Customers can show their support and donate through register scan cards and coin boxes at stores or by donating online at www.honoringourheroes.com. All funds raised from customers will be additional to Kroger's $1 million commitment. All gifts will help the USO continue its mission to keep service members connected to family, home and country throughout their service to our nation.

More than two million Americans serve on active duty or in the reserves today, including many Kroger family of stores associates. Kroger's "Honoring Our Heroes" program is designed to show Kroger's deep gratitude to our active duty service members and our nation's 23 million veterans through the company's partnership with the USO.

Kroger has shown appreciation for our heroes this summer by hosting dinners for the troops and their families.

• On May 24, Kroger associates served lunch and dinner to 1,000 service members at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson in Anchorage.
• On June 3, associates hosted a beachside BBQ for 1,000 veterans, active duty soldiers and their families in Virginia Beach as part of Warrior Week.
• On June 7, associates hosted a rib roast at Ft. Riley, Kansas, for 1,000 military families as they celebrate Victory Week, the anniversary of their base.

Kroger's customers and associates have enthusiastically supported the endeavor: Kroger's annual campaign has raised more than $14 million since 2010 to support USO programs, which represents the largest cumulative gift to the USO in its 75-year history.

Kroger honors our troops in a variety of ways throughout the year:

• Care Packages
  Kroger's corporate and Cincinnati/Dayton division associates will be packing 2,500 care packages at the company's annual picnic on July 15^th. The care packages will be donated to the USO in honor of their 75^th anniversary.
  
• Gift Card Donations
  Customers may purchase special donation gift cards in $5, $10 and $15 denominations that will be delivered to USO centers around the world. In addition, shoppers can share their spirit with loved ones by purchasing patriotic banner gift cards to give as gifts, maybe to someone in the family who is (or was) a service member or someone in the community who is especially patriotic.
  
• Meet Our Heroes
  Kroger has hired more than 32,000 veterans since 2009, and the "Meet Our Heroes" section on Kroger's website highlights some of the many team members who have served in the military. Customers can visit HonoringOurHeroes.com to become inspired by Kroger's own associates' stories of courage, then write a special message of their own to America's heroes. By posting on social media channels using the #HonoringOurHeroes hashtag, the message will automatically show up on the official website. In addition, many of the messages will be broadcast on special digital outdoor billboards.
  
• Share a Coke
  Kroger teamed up with Coca-Cola and the USO to donate 100,000 Coca-Cola cans to service members through the Share a Coke campaign.

To find out more about these programs please visit www.honoringourheroes.com.   

About the USO
The USO strengthens America's military service members by keeping them connected to family, home and country, throughout their service to the nation. At hundreds of locations worldwide, we are united in our commitment to connect our service members and their families through countless acts of caring, comfort, and support. The USO is a private, non-profit organization, not a government agency. Our programs, services and entertainment tours are made possible by the American people, support of our corporate partners and the dedication of our volunteers and staff. To join us in this important mission, and to learn more about the USO, please visit uso.org.

About Kroger
Every day, the Kroger Family of Companies makes a difference in the lives of eight and a half million customers and 431,000 associates who shop or serve in 2,778 retail food stores under a variety of local banner names in 35 states and the District of Columbia. Kroger and its subsidiaries operate an expanding ClickList offering – a personalized, order online, pick up at the store service – in addition to 2,230 pharmacies, 785 convenience stores, 323 fine jewelry stores, 1,400 supermarket fuel centers and 38 food production plants in the United States. Kroger is recognized as one of America's most generous companies for its support of more than 100 Feeding America food bank partners, breast cancer research and awareness, the military and their families, and more than 145,000 community organizations including schools. A leader in supplier diversity, Kroger is a proud member of the Billion Dollar Roundtable.

Video - https://youtu.be/QrJxX9L0nXo
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150408/197347LOGO

SOURCE The Kroger Co.

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