September is Hunger Action Month and Publix Super Markets Charities has stepped up to the plate! They just gifted the Food Bank of North Alabama with 327,106 pounds of fresh produce, backed by a $100,000 monetary donation to help raise awareness, and inspire action in the fight to alleviate hunger.

According to Feeding America, nearly 11 percent of Americans are food insecure and in Alabama that rate is higher than the national average with 16 percent of residents facing hunger.

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, food banks saw an unprecedented 50 percent increase in demand in 2020 with food banks providing food assistance to 60 million Americans.

“We are so thankful to Publix Charities for making these contributions,” said Shirley Schofield, executive director of the Food Bank of North Alabama. “Since the pandemic started, we have many people getting food assistance for the first time and some of them have never been unemployed, so they have never been in these circumstances before. Even after more than a year, many people still have not fully recovered, so the timing could not be better.”

The increase in people needing food assistance since the start of the pandemic is something Feeding America CEO Claire Babineaux-Fontenot said has presented challenges in search of solutions.

“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,” she said.

Shirley Schofield, Executive Director of Food Bank of North Alabama, and Sean Franklin, District Manager for Publix

With that mission in mind, Publix Super Markets Charities started a farmers and families initiative last year. Publix purchased more than 18 million pounds of produce and 500,000 gallons of milk from Southeastern farmers who lost business during the pandemic.

They then donated it to Feeding America member food banks. Their commitment has also involved donating pasta, canned and boxed goods, and cereal to food bank programs in the communities where they have stores.

This past March, Publix launched a Feeding More Together campaign that let customers donate nonperishable food items at the register, to which Publix then matched those donations with an equivalent purchase of fresh produce. Both were donated to Feeding America member food banks.

Nationally, the campaign raised nearly $5 million in customer donations. The Feeding More Together program will run again this fall, November 4-15.

Furthermore, every day, store associates gather wholesome, but unsalable dairy, deli meat and produce, and donate it to food banks throughout the company’s seven-state operating area.

Having food on the table is an essential need that millions of people struggle with every day, said Publix CEO Todd Jones.

“As a food retailer, helping provide nourishing meals to our neighbors in need is at the heart of who we are. It is our privilege to join our customers in helping to alleviate hunger and do good together for our communities.”