Stater Bros. Kicks Off Holiday Food Drive For Needy

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif., Nov. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Stater Bros. Supermarkets, in conjunction with its charitable arm Stater Bros. Charities, will be "Harvesting Hope" in Southern California communities.  The 4^th Annual "Harvesting Hope in our Community" program will provide food and funding throughout the months of November and December to assist with hunger relief efforts in the communities where Stater Bros. customers and employees live and work.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121101/LA04466LOGO)

• Stater Bros. Charities will present over $450,000 in cash donations to over 100 Southern California food banks and self-help organizations.  These funds were collected during the course of the year through the Stater Bros. Charities' Customers Care Program.  Customers and employees participate in the year-round Customers Care Program by donating their loose change or by purchasing Scannable Donation Cards while paying for their groceries at the check stand. 
• All 167 Stater Bros. Supermarkets will have food barrels in place to collect nonperishable food items for struggling families.
• All 167 Stater Bros. Supermarkets are accepting additional cash donations at each check stand for allocation to food banks in the summer of 2013 when food reserves are traditionally low.  Customers can donate loose change in the "Harvesting Hope" Donation Canisters or purchase $10 "Harvesting Hope" Scannable Donation Cards. 

"Many of our hard working customers have exhausted their resources and are being forced to get extra help this holiday season.  Stater Bros. is going to help in the best way we know how by keeping our prices low and helping our food banks get a big boost for the holiday season," said Jack H. Brown, Chairman and Chief Executive Office of Stater Bros. Supermarkets.

The Stater Bros. "Harvesting Hope in our Community" campaign winds up Stater Bros.' year-long efforts to support nonprofit organizations in the communities it serves.  

Each year, Stater Bros. and Stater Bros. Charities contribute over $15 million to assist those in need, with an emphasis on worthy programs that benefit hunger relief, children's services, veterans care, education, and the elderly. 

Stater Bros. also donates over 3 million pounds of food annually to the local food banks.

"During these tough times ... we will not let our customers stand alone," added Brown.

Stater Bros. was founded in 1936 in Yucaipa, California, and has grown steadily through the years to become the largest privately owned Supermarket Chain in Southern California and the largest private employer in both San Bernardino County and Riverside County.  The Company currently operates 167 Supermarkets, and there are over 18,000 members of the Stater Bros. Supermarket Family.  Stater Bros. was recently rated the "Best Full Service Supermarket Chain in Southern California."  For more information log onto www.staterbros.com.

STATER BROS ... PROUDLY SERVING SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FAMILIES FOR 76 YEARS

Contact: Susan Atkinson
Vice President Corporate Affairs
P.O. Box 150 San Bernardino, CA 92402
Phone: (909) 733-5038

SOURCE Stater Bros. Markets