Hannaford donates $400,000 to advance child health and wellness in MA

Massachusetts – Hannaford Supermarkets today announced a $400,000 investment in Massachusetts-based programs that work to positively impact the health of children statewide. The funding will benefit Project Bread and Community Servings to expand programs and resources that promote greater access to nutritious foods and the development of healthy lifestyles for kids and families.

These donations are part of a $1.3 million investment in programs that positively impact child health and wellness across New England and New York. The funding is the latest chapter of Hannaford’s “Eat Well, Be Well – A Path to Better Health” initiative, which paves the way for healthier futures by working to ensure all kids are able to get nutritious foods.

Nationally, almost 20% of children aged 2-19 are considered to have obesity. The statistic highlights a growing need to address the potential long-term impacts of obesity on the physical health of children, including an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and certain types of cancer. The funding from Hannaford will not only support greater access to healthy food but also improve nutrition education resources for children – ultimately fostering a healthier future for the entire family.

“It’s essential we provide children with the right tools to develop healthy habits at an early age,” said Mike Vail, President at Hannaford Supermarkets. “We’re incredibly proud to support these meaningful programs, which will create positive, lasting impact on the lives of children in our communities. By investing in the next generation today, we’re establishing the foundation for thriving communities tomorrow.”

The $200,000 donation to Project Bread will increase kids’ access to free healthy meals year-round through the statewide food security organization’s child nutrition programs. Funds will help cover costs for training school nutrition professionals and community meal providers; equipment to support greater access to meals, such as mobile school breakfast carts; and promotional materials to increase awareness for and participation in free school meals for all K-12 students and the Summer Eats program, providing 3 million free meals each summer to kids and teens statewide. According to Project Bread, 1 in 5 Massachusetts households with children are facing hunger.

“Nourished children are the bedrock of our future in Massachusetts, and at Project Bread, we are focused on providing critical support to schools and community partners to ensure all children can eat nutritious meals each day,” said Erin McAleer, President and CEO of Project Bread, which works to address food insecurity through policy, prevention and partnerships. “We are proud to partner with Hannaford in our mission to end hunger because their investments in feeding children today, throughout the school year and during the summer season, will lead to sustainable change and positive health outcomes for generations to come.”

Another $200,000 donation to Community Servings will help scale the organization’s Food is Medicine program, allowing them to provide 275,000 freshly made-from-scratch meals to 1,800 pediatric clients and families at risk of obesity and living with diet-related illnesses. The meals are delivered directly to clients’ homes to remove barriers to access. The program is also exploring options to expand services to include pregnant and postpartum individuals.

“Community Servings is thrilled to partner with Hannaford Supermarkets to support Child Health in Massachusetts,” said David B. Waters, CEO of Community Servings. “With Hannaford's support over the next two years, we will expand our Food is Medicine Nutrition Program, providing scratch-made and medically tailored meals to children and families. Together, we are advancing the health of children experiencing nutrition insecurity and critical illness.”

Hannaford established the “Eat Well, Be Well – A Path to Better Health” initiative in September 2022 to help break down the barriers that challenge access to healthy, nutritious food and wellness resources. Over the past three years, Hannaford has provided more than $4 million in funding to community organizations under the Eat Well, Be Well banner.

For more information about Hannaford’s community efforts and charitable giving initiatives, visit Hannaford.com/HannafordHelps.

About Hannaford Supermarkets

Hannaford Supermarkets operates 189 stores in the Northeast, most with full-service pharmacies. Stores are located in Maine, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. All are committed to offering great fresh food, convenient experiences and everyday low prices. Hannaford also is an active and committed community partner—focusing on fighting hunger, supporting youth development, and helping people live healthier lives. Hannaford is an industry leader in sustainability with a strong commitment to reducing waste and protecting the environment. Hannaford diverts or donates all food at risk of going to waste—sending no food to landfills. In 2023, Hannaford donated 26 million pounds of food to hunger relief organizations. Hannaford employs nearly 30,000 associates and is based in Scarborough, Maine. Additional information can be found at Hannaford.com.

About Project Bread

Project Bread is the leading statewide food security organization in Massachusetts with a radical approach to solving hunger. Beginning in 1969 with the first Walk for Hunger, the nonprofit focuses on driving systemic change to ensure people of all ages have reliable access to healthy food. Project Bread works collaboratively across sectors to create innovative solutions to end hunger and improve lives across the Commonwealth. For more information, visit: www.projectbread.org.

About Community Servings

Founded in 1990, Community Servings’ mission is to actively engage the community to provide medically tailored, nutritious, scratch-made meals to chronically and critically ill individuals and their families. We commit, in all our programs and business practices, to prioritize racial and economic justice and health equity. To help clients maintain their health and dignity, we provide culturally appropriate meals, nutrition education and counseling, and other community programs. Our kitchen team, with support from thousands of volunteers, prepares over 1 million medically tailored meals that are served to more than 6,500 clients annually. For more information about programs and opportunities to volunteer or donate, please visit www.servings.org.

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