Kroger’s Foundation Aims To Raise $10M For Coronavirus Fund

To help families particularly impacted by the novel coronavirus, The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation said it has created the Emergency COVID-19 Response Fund. Kroger and the foundation seek to direct $10 million in national, state and local grants to pandemic response efforts via the fund, according to an announcement.

Kroger and the Foundation have rolled out new charitable giving programs to speed up the fund’s critical response initiatives. Shoppers can help the fund through the Round Up to End Hunger effort at stores and fuel center kiosks. They can round up their transactions to the closest dollar amount or commit to a $1, $5 or $10 donation throughout almost 2,800 stores. Customers can also donate to the fund online in any amount they choose.

Keith Dailey, Kroger‘s group vice president of corporate affairs, said in an announcement, “We recognize the need in our communities is urgent and increasing every day. Kroger’s Zero Hunger | Zero Waste social impact plan is our commitment to help create communities free of hunger and waste — and never has this mission been more important.”

The Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation has committed over $6 million to date to nonprofit partners addressing emergency coronavirus response efforts.

As previously reported, Kroger and the Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation announced a $3 million commitment to put hunger relief resources in communities impacted by the virus. The commitment would be split between No Kid Hungry and Feeding America, per news in March. The initiative, which supports local food banks throughout the country, will focus on children whose schools may be shuttered.

Dailey said, per past reports, “Our most urgent mission is to be here for our customers when they need us most, and our store, warehouse, distribution, food production and office associates are working around the clock to keep our stores open for our customers.”