BOISE, Idaho–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Albertsons Companies Foundation, BB #:193326, today announced the launch of a new collaborative effort to address child hunger this summer. This first-of-its-kind effort, bringing together a coalition of leading nonprofit organizations, is designed to raise awareness and participation in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) new Summer Child Electronic Benefit Transfer program (Summer EBT), also known as SUN Bucks.
“Child hunger is a complex issue that requires partners across the food system to come together and work together,” said Kristy Duncan Anderson, president and executive director of the Albertsons Companies Foundation. “Through the collective knowledge, expertise and extensive network of prominent nonprofits and the Albertsons Companies Foundation, we aim to reach more families than we could individually.”
For millions of children who rely on free or reduced-price meals at school, summer is a time when nutritious food is hard to come by. To address this, USDA launched Summer EBT, a new program available in 37 states, all five territories, and two tribes. The program provides food benefits to low-income families with school-age children during the summer when school is out. Eligible families in participating states will receive $120 for groceries for each eligible school-age child.
“We’ve been advocating for the creation of a summer EBT program like SUN Bucks for more than a decade, and we’re thrilled that families facing food insecurity will be able to access it this summer,” said Claire Babineaux Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America. “By working with people living with hunger and partners like the Albertsons Companies Foundation, we’re making a real impact on summer hunger and laying the groundwork for more states to join next year.”
The Albertsons Companies Foundation’s Nourishing Neighbors program is working with an advisory group of key players across the food system to ensure as many families as possible can benefit from the program in this critical first year. The advisory group is made up of representatives from Feeding America®, Food Research & Action Center, Gift Card Bank, Hunger Free America, mRelief, No Kid Hungry, Partnership for a Healthier America and WhyHunger. The group engages with more than 200 food banks, 500 school districts and community organizations, and more than 1,500 partner organizations across the country.
“For millions of children who rely on school meals, summer is the hungriest time of the year, and rising food prices put families at even greater risk,” added Anne Filipic, CEO of Share Our Strength, an advocacy group for the No Kid Hungry campaign. “By joining with the Albertsons Companies Foundation and its partners, we believe we can take another step forward to ensure every child in America has the food they need to grow up healthy and strong.”
The effort aims to ensure families have access to the information they need to learn how they can benefit from this new program, both online and through a surround sound approach designed to reach parents and guardians in the community.
Additionally, the coalition has launched a new website, SummerEBT.org, that makes it easy and quick for families to check if they are eligible and connects them to their state’s enrollment site. For families who live in states that aren’t participating, the site also directs them to other food resources, such as the USDA Summer Meals Program, and allows them to write elected representatives to urge their state to participate next summer.
About Feeding Your Neighbor
Nourishing Neighbors is the signature philanthropic platform of the Albertsons Companies Foundation, which operates under 17 brands including Safeway, Albertsons, ACME, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s and Vons. The program is designed to ensure at-risk children, adults, seniors and families have access to the nutritious food they need to stay healthy. In 2023, together with the Albertsons Companies Foundation, the company provided more than $350 million in food and financial assistance, including more than $35 million through the Nourishing Neighbors program to ensure people living in their communities and those affected by disasters have enough to eat. The Foundation is committed to making the donation of 1 billion meals possible by 2030 and is actively driving innovative programs and partnerships to break the cycle of hunger in the communities we serve.
About Albertsons Companies
Albertsons Companies is a leading American food and drug retailer. As of February 24, 2024, the company operates 2,269 retail stores with 1,725 pharmacies, 402 associated fuel centers, 22 dedicated distribution centers and 19 manufacturing facilities. The company operates stores in 34 states and the District of Columbia under more than 20 well-known brands, including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randall’s, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen, Carrs, Kings Food Market and Balducci Food Lovers Market.
