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This Disaster Preparedness Month, Dollar General is spotlighting its disaster preparedness and relief efforts and partnerships, supporting preparatory efforts as well as the recovery of its employees and rebuilding the communities it calls home. Across the U.S., communities are facing extreme weather events with increasing frequency and intensity. This year the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued its highest-ever forecast for hurricane season, and in California, wildfires have already burned more acres than in the past two years combined.
In keeping with its mission of Serving Others, Dollar General is committed to being there to support its neighbors across the country in the wake of hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, fires and earthquakes to provide hope, help and support to rebuild their lives.
With approximately 75 percent of the U.S. population living within five miles of a DG store, millions of Americans rely on Dollar General to provide convenient, affordable access to the essentials they need to prepare and recover from a storm.
Our supply chain and merchandising teams regularly monitor storm forecasts and work to respond quickly to the needs of our communities to ensure necessities like water, non-perishable foods and batteries are available in times of need.
Since 2001, Dollar General has proudly supported the American Red Cross’ work to prepare for emergencies and supplied vital resources to individuals and families when disaster strikes. This year, DG furthered its commitment to the American Red Cross’s Disaster Responder Program with a $250,000 donation to provide safe shelter, hot meals, emotional support and resources to people affected by disasters across the country.
To date, Dollar General has provided more than $8.5 million in corporate donations and in-store collections to support the Red Cross and its disaster preparedness, response and recovery efforts.
Established in 2005, the DG Employee Assistance Foundation (DGEAF) has provided financial support for DG team members and their families facing hardships such as losing a home due to a natural disaster or fire, funeral expenses and more.
Shortly after coming home from work, Thomas called 9-1-1 to report his house was on fire. While Thomas and his father escaped the fire safely, much of their home was burnt to the ground.
"My dad and I made it out, but I was thinking ‘where are we going to live?’” said Thomas.
Through the DG Employee Assistance Foundation, the Company provided Thomas, an employee at the Company’s Ardmore Distribution Center, and his family funding to find replacement housing, ensuring they had somewhere to stay following the fire. “Without you guys, I don't know what we would have done," he said.
Amid the devastation of the 2024 tornadoes in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, Zac lost his home, leaving him, his wife and kids without anywhere to live. DG was quick to support Zac, a DG Private Fleet driver, and his family during this tragedy and help their recovery with funds from the DGEAF.
"It was the scariest time of my life and a total loss on my house, but Dollar General stepped up," said Zac.
Over its 19-year history, the DG Employee Assistance Foundation has awarded more than $19 million to more than 10,500 employees across areas of support including funds for funeral expenses of an immediate family member, loss of home due to a natural disaster or fire, extraordinary expenses related to an unexpected life-threatening or terminal illness, or rental housing deemed uninhabitable or condemned.
In August 2023, category 4 Hurricane Idalia tore through Valdosta, Georgia, destroying several buildings and leading to life-threatening flooding. During the storm, Pinevale Elementary School’s library sustained significant damage, resulting in waterlogged and ruined books.
Through the Dollar General Literacy Foundation’s Beyond Words literacy grant program, Pinevale Elementary was awarded $5,000 to rebuild its library and replenish the books that were ruined in the storm.
“Dollar General’s generosity serves as a shining example of the power of giving, and we feel privileged to have you as a partner in our mission to empower young minds through literature,” said Pinevale Elementary School Principal Tony Burgman.
Since 2006, the Beyond Words grant program has been a beacon of hope for school libraries destroyed or severely impacted by natural disasters. During the last 18 years, Beyond Words has awarded more than $2.9 million in grants, impacting nearly 123,000 students in 32 states. Public school libraries within 15 miles of a DG store or distribution center are eligible to apply for a Beyond Words grant and can learn more here.
In the wake of Hurricane Francine, Dollar General recently announced a partnership with World Central Kitchen (WCK) to support disaster response and provide nourishing meals in the communities it serves following natural disasters and other crises.
The partnership was activated on September 12, 2024 following the impact from Hurricane Francine. WCK quickly deployed the new Dollar General-supported Rapid Response Field Kitchen. The custom-designed, all-terrain vehicle that can quickly access hard-to-reach communities and provide up to 3,000 hot meals and 1,500 sandwiches each day for people in need.
The DG-supported Rapid Response Field Kitchen allows WCK to begin cooking within hours, enabling them to serve fresh meals immediately as local restaurants, stores, and suppliers come back online for longer term support. The state-of-the-art mobile kitchen was also on the ground in Florida in early August 2024 as part of WCK’s response to Hurricane Debby.
World Central Kitchen Relief Teams are currently scheduled to serve today and will continue to evaluate the mobile kitchen’s location each day based on shifting needs. The community can follow WCK on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for real time updates about the mobile kitchen.
“With more than 20,000 stores in communities across the country, Dollar General is committed to being there for our neighbors, especially in times of crisis,” said Denine Torr, Dollar General’s vice president of corporate social responsibility and philanthropy. “We are honored to partner with WCK to deliver nourishing meals to provide hope in our hometowns when they may need it most. We hope today’s activation makes a positive difference for our Louisiana neighbors and others WCK will serve in the future.”
