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Retailers ramp up charitable giving to meet critical needs

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NEW YORK – In addition to serving their customers by keeping stores open during the coronavirus pandemic, mass retailers are working to support their communities through grants and charitable giving.

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation announced a $25 million commitment to strengthen the global public health response, bolster food security and support the needs of local communities in the United States and ­internationally.

“We are humbled by the efforts of our store associates, nonprofit partners and citizens across the globe who are coming together to support those in need,” said Kathleen McLaughlin, executive vice president and chief sustainability officer at Walmart and president of the Walmart Foundation. “We hope these grants will help to expand critical response efforts as we continue to work together to address the impact of COVID-19.”

CVS Health announced the company and its foundations are giving more than $1 million to address food insecurity and other community needs. In addition, the CVS Health Foundation will match employee contributions up to $1 million toward the CVS Health Employee Relief Fund, a public charity supporting colleagues during unanticipated and unavoidable financial hardships and emergencies.

“Supporting the communities we serve and building on the steps CVS Health has taken to support its employees aligns with our purpose of helping people on their path to better health,” said Eileen Howard Boone, senior vice president of corporate social responsibility and Philanthropy for CVS Health, and president of the CVS Health and Aetna ­foundations.

Albertsons Cos. and its foundation pledged $3 million and announced the launch of a fund-raising campaign to help feed families in need.

“Albertsons has always been on the front line of hunger relief, and our customers always stand with us,” said Vivek Sankaran, the retailer’s president and chief executive officer. “We are asking our communities to join us in this effort to ensure that the COVID-19 crisis doesn’t also become a hunger crisis.”

Kroger Co., through its Home Chef subsidiary, established a Home Chef Helps initiative to relieve hunger and aid communities in need during the pandemic. The initiative is an extension of the meal kit provider’s commitment to hunger relief through regular donations to food banks in the communities in which it operates. As part of this effort, Home Chef announced a donation of $100,000 to Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger relief organization.

Feeding America is also in line to receive a $1 million donation as part of Publix Super Markets Charities’ ongoing support of hunger relief efforts. Publix earmarked the money for support of the food banks across the Southeast region it serves.

Hy-Vee Inc. announced a goal of raising $1 million to help local food banks restock their shelves during the ongoing public health emergency.

Giant Food is donating $1.5 million through its nonprofit partners to address the needs of its communities during the coronavirus crisis.

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