Investments to Eradicate Hunger

Keene, NH – Continuing a long-term commitment to alleviate hunger, C&S Wholesale Grocers has announced grants made to six statewide food banks that are in or near communities where the company operates. All six are part of the Feeding America network.

“The work done by these food banks and the local agencies they supply is more important than ever, and we’re proud to support their missions,” said Rick Cohen, C&S Chairman and CEO. “C&S and the food banks together share a common belief that we can make strides to eliminate hunger in families.”

Recipients include:

Hawaii Foodbank, Honolulu, Hawaii

C&S support has expanded the Food for Keiki Backpack Program. This program benefits 300 “keiki” (elementary school children) and discreetly fills their backpacks with healthy and easy-to-eat food to take home on weekends when other resources are not available. Located in a poor, inner-city neighborhood, the school serves families from public housing projects and homeless encampments. With C&S support, the program will grow from once per month to filling backpacks once per week. C&S operates distribution centers in nearby Kapolei, Hi.

Foodshare, Bloomfield, Connecticut

C&S has provided seed money to help Foodshare launch an ambitious five-year work plan that will focus on the causes of hunger and will propose strategies to address the problem effectively. C&S operates distribution centers in nearby Windsor Locks and Suffield, Conn.

United Way Community Food Bank, Birmingham, Alabama

The Food Bank’s antiquated, dimly-lit sorting area and their transportation fleet will benefit from a C&S donation. Renovations to the sorting area, where volunteers and staff organize and pack food, will result in more streamlined operations. Improvements to the fleet will allow for more food donation pickups and deliveries. The Food Bank serves more than 300,000 people in 13 counties. C&S operates a distribution center in Birmingham, Ala.

Capital Area Food Bank, Washington, D.C.

C&S has provided support for five Kids Cafés in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Kids Cafés is an after-school meal program for children in low-income communities. The program provides snacks and often a hot meal and informal instruction in healthy cooking. The program also offers homework assistance and mentoring. C&S operates a distribution center in Upper Marlboro, Md.

Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York

C&S has provided funds to support the purchase of a small refrigerated truck. The truck will enable the Food Bank to annually increase by 10% the amount of food distributed via 370 food assistance agencies in six counties. C&S operates distribution centers in nearby Newburgh, Chester and Montgomery, N.Y.

Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, Hatfield, Massachusetts

The Target: Hunger Springfield initiative has also received support from C&S. The Food Bank serves more than 100,000 people throughout the region. The need is particularly acute in the Mason Square section of the city of Springfield, where 19% of households live with hunger or food insecurity and 53% of the households experiencing moderate to severe hunger include children. The Target: Hunger Springfield project focuses on practical grassroots solutions to help residents build long-term food security. Strategies include community gardens, inter-generational cooking classes, improved transportation and access to markets, education, advocacy and more user-friendly food assistance programs. C&S operates distribution centers in North and South Hatfield and in Westfield, Mass.

In addition, a donation has been made to the Congressional Hunger Center, of Washington D.C, which is a bipartisan nonprofit organization that develops new leaders in an effort to eradicate hunger. C&S provided funds to support training for the 15th class of Emerson National Hunger Fellows. For six months, Fellows are placed with urban and rural community-based organizations involved in fighting hunger at the local level. The Fellows complete a year in Washington D.C. working with national organizations involved in the anti-hunger and poverty movement, including advocacy groups, think tanks and federal agencies.