Alberton's and America's Second Harvest Announce Hunger-Relief Partnership
Rhonda Clements (Albertson's), 208/395-6392
Company Will Sponsor Nationwide Drive Donates Additional $25,000 Sponsoring First National Hunger Awareness Day
Boise, ID -- May 20, 2002 -- Albertson's, Inc. (NYSE:ABS) today announced plans to donate $25,000 and raise an additional 2.5 million pounds of food for America's Second Harvest. These efforts are in support of America's Second Harvest sponsorship of National Hunger Awareness Day on June 5, which is one aspect of their ongoing Call to Action campaign.
America's Second Harvest, the nation's largest domestic hunger relief organization announced in February that the major downturn in the economy, subsequent massive lay-offs, and the events of September 11th are contributing to a significant increase in the number of Americans who are unable to feed their families.
"It became clear we needed a National Call to Action to address the dramatic disparity between increased demand and decreased supply," said Bob Forney, president and ceo of America's Second Harvest. "As a result, we developed an aggressive plan to help meet our needs of raising an additional 365 million pounds of food; our sponsorship of National Hunger Awareness Day is one aspect of our ongoing Call to Action."
As a long-time contributor to America's Second Harvest, Albertson's answered the call by committing to a company-wide summer food drive in most stores during the month of August. Typically, donations to food banks are lower during the summer months, and with the existing shortage the need will be even greater. Albertson's summer food drives are expected to raise up to an additional 2.5 million pounds of food for Second Harvest food banks across the country.
"At Albertson's, we work everyday to be the neighbor of choice in every community we serve," said Larry Johnston, Albertson's chairman and chief executive officer. "We are committed and dedicated to contributing to the quality of life in the communities we serve and our focus on hunger relief is one of the many ways we give back. This will be the first time Albertson's has launched a company-wide food drive in the summer but we are proud to answer the call of America's Second Harvest. We are doing our part to help ensure that no one in America goes to bed hungry."
To kick off the summer food drive, 12 Albertson's distribution centers across the country will deliver a truckload of food and non-food items to local food banks on June 5th. Each truckload contains 40,000 pounds of food and non-food products for a total of 480 pounds.
"We are delighted that Albertson's is making an investment to better the lives of hungry people. Albertson's is a great friend of America's Second Harvest and deserves praise for its corporate philanthropy," said Bob Forney.
In 2001, Albertson's donated more than 20 million pounds of food and non-food items to American's Second Harvest food banks and other local hunger-relief programs throughout the Company's operating areas. In addition, Albertson's donated day-old bakery products to local food banks and soup kitchens, participated in local food drives and partnered with vendors to distribute food to needy families.
More than sixty years ago, Albertson's founder Joe Albertson established a legacy of giving that remains at the core of the Company's business philosophy. Last year, Albertson's donated more than 20 million pounds of food and household goods to food banks and hunger-relief charities nationwide. Albertson's is one of the world's largest food and drug retailers. Based in Boise, Idaho, the company currently operates more than 2,300 retail stores in 33 states nationwide.
America's Second Harvest is the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization with a national network of more than 200 regional food banks and food-rescue programs, serving all 50 states and Puerto Rico. It distributes 1.4 billion pounds of donated food and grocery products annually. America's Second Harvest's network supports approximately 50,000 local charitable agencies, operating more than 94,000 food programs, including food pantries, soup kitchens, women's shelters, Kids Cafes, Community Kitchens. These local organizations provide emergency food assistance to 23 million hungry Americans, including more than nine million children and almost three million seniors each year.
