SpartanNash is the leading sponsor for the Walk for Good Food 2020 (Harvester Sponsor, $5,000) and a valued partner of Access of West Michigan. We asked SpartanNash to share with us about their mission, services offered to the community, how COVID-19 has impacted them, and why they choose to support Access and the Walk for Good Food. We are so thankful for all they do for our community! Read more about their work below:
SpartanNash is committed to building stronger communities where we live, work and serve. We align our corporate giving with four key strategic objectives- workforce development, diversity and inclusion, health and wellness and food diversion/waste reduction.
Recently with the COVID-19 pandemic, trustees of the SpartanNash Foundation voted unanimously to grant $250,000 to 19 Feeding America locations. SpartanNash provided $125,000 in matching funds. SpartanNash’s food bank grant partners are part of the Feeding American nonprofit nationwide network of more than 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs that feed more than 46 millions people a year. Depending on the location and operational model of the food bank, the SpartanNash Foundation grant should fund between 750,000 and 2.5 million meals for families in need. In addition to this COVID-19 relief grant, the SpartanNash Foundation also granted more than 1.35 million in 2019 to provide hunger relief, secure shelter, and support military families. SpartanNash donates more than 5.5 million pounds of food annually to partnering food banks and local food pantries and funded more than $1.4 million in community support in 2019.
As a part of SpantanNash’s corporate responsibility initiatives, the company was the first major retailer to sign the Fair Food Pledge with Migrant Legal Aid to ensure fair and equitable treatment of Michigan’s seasonal workers. SpartanNash also was the first major retailer in Michigan to support the Double Up Food Bucks programs to help low income SNAP customers gain greater access to fruits and vegetables. Forty-six SpartanNash stores participate in the program, and during COVID-19, the DUFB redemption offer has been increased by $20 per day to $50 per day. For full details, check out www.spartannash.com/corp-responsibility or read our annual CR report.
COVID-19 has impacted our organization in a number of ways; from increased demand on our supply chain and food distribution network to changes in how our stores operate and the ways we are protecting our associates during these uncertain times. It seems that the way we do business changes each day, but throughout all of this, we have seen the strength of SpartanNash associates and their commitment to serving our customers as we adapt to and overcome each new opportunity. As we navigate these uncertainties, our company has two top priorities: the well-being and safety of our family of associates, customers and communities; and supporting health officials and government leaders to contain the virus. To learn more about the many safety, sanitation, hiring and benefit and bonus offerings we have put in place since the onset of COVID-19, check out our website’s covid update page.
As a part of our commitment to building stronger communities, SpartanNash takes our role in the community very seriously. We understand food insecurities are real and one of our company’s objectives is to provide hunger relief. The SpartanNash Foundation also granted more than $1.35 million in 2019 to provide hunger relief, secure shelter and support military families. SpartanNash donates more than 5.5 million pounds of food annually to partnering food banks and local food pantries and funded more than $1.4 million in community support in 2019.
“SpartanNash is proud to support the Walk for Good Food, because, as a company that takes food places, we know how important it is for everyone to have access to affordable, healthy food,” said Meredith Gremel, SpartanNash vice president, corporate affairs and communications. “The coronavirus pandemic has created unprecedented strains on families, driven record unemployment, and resulted in many turning to food banks and pantries for help. By supporting Access and its network of food pantries, we can drive greater community impact at these most uncertain times. We are proud to continue to give back to our communities through events like the Walk for Good Food and support efforts to provide food that is healthy, affordable and equitable.”
We at Access of West Michigan are grateful to the SpartanNash for their continued commitment and support of our work and the work of our partners, including:
- Grant to UCOM in 2019 for $5,000
- 8,000lbs of Miller Poultry donated in 2019 to distribute to local food pantries
- SpartanNash associates had volunteered 240 hours since 2017 to Access through our Helping Hands program, that is $6,100 in economic impact.