Meijer expands fresh food donation initiative

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. Meijer announced that it is expanding its fresh food donation initiative with plans to bring millions of pounds of fresh food directly to families in need through local food pantries. The announcement was made by Janet Emerson, EVP operations for the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based supercenter chain.

"Meijer is pleased to expand our fresh food donation initiative," said Emerson. "As unemployment continues to challenge our economy, thousands of families are relying on local food banks.  Our expanded food rescue program allows us to help these families receive more fresh food, along with the traditional pantry offerings."

Meijer said it has expanded its "fresh" food donations, which include meats, cheese, yogurt, and select dairy items, to local food banks throughout the Midwest. The expansion of Meijer's initiative to provide fresh items helps increase the total tonnage of food delivered to local food banks while utilizing product that would not have been available in the past.

The Meijer fresh food donation initiative will include food banks in Detroit, Lansing, Toledo, Dayton, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, and communities in Chicago's Cook County.