Charlotte Food Bank Receives 2.5M Pounds Of Food From Publix

CHARLOTTE, NC — The Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina has received a sizable donation from Publix Charities that will help to serve an underserved portion of the greater Charlotte area that struggles with food insecurity.

Publix announced this week that they have donated $135,000 and more than 2.5 million pounds of produce, which was delivered from local farms. In North Carolina, 13.5 percent of residents struggle with knowing where their next meal will come from and 553,000 residents across the 24-county region the Charlotte-based food bank services fight hunger.

Of the number of residents across the region that struggle with food insecurity, 182,000 are children and more than 48,000 are senior citizens, according to the food bank.

Publix made the donation as part of Hunger Action Month and officials from the Florida-based retailer said they are doing what they can to alleviate food insecurity issues around the South.

“Having food on the table is an essential need that millions of people throughout our communities struggle with every day. As a food retailer, helping provide nourishing meals to our neighbors in need is at the heart of who we are,” Publix CEO Todd Jones said in a news release. “It is our privilege to join our customers in helping to alleviate hunger and do good together for our communities.”

During September, Publix Super Markets Charities is donating $5.5 million to 300 Feeding America member food banks and other nonprofit organizations as part of their ongoing support to alleviate hunger and help local communities within Publix’s operating area.

“So many of our neighbors continue to struggle with having enough food to eat, but together, we can help change that,” Kelly Williams-Puccio, executive director of Publix Super Markets Charities said in the release. “We are proud to continue our commitment of providing hope through nourishment for our neighbors in need.”

Since April 2020, Publix has donated more than 33 million pounds of produce to Feeding America member food banks through its farmers and families initiative and Feeding More Together campaign, Publix officials said.

Through the farmers and families initiative launched last year, Publix purchased and donated more than 18 million pounds of produce and 500,000 gallons of milk to Feeding America member food banks, according to the release. Publix purchased this produce and milk from Southeastern farmers who lost business as schools and restaurants closed due to the pandemic.

“Since the start of the pandemic, we have seen an increase in the number of people turning to Feeding America member food banks for help, many of them for the first time,” Feeding America CEO Claire Babineaux-Fontenot said in the release. “We are incredibly grateful to Publix and Publix Super Markets Charities for finding new, innovative ways to help serve our neighbors and for their long-standing commitment to alleviating hunger.”

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2021, about 42 million Americans may not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.