Winn-Dixie launches Give a Meal program

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Winn-Dixie on Wednesday announced it has joined forces with Feeding America to launch the Give a Meal program, which gives Winn-Dixie guests and team members the opportunity to help provide food to nearly 37 million Americans — including more than 14 million children — facing hunger this holiday season. Give a Meal runs through Jan. 3 and is available in all of Winn-Dixie’s 482 stores in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. Every $1 donated during the campaign helps provide eight meals to people in need.

“With 1-in-6 American’s facing hunger every day, there is no business more aligned to help with this cause than Winn-Dixie,” Winn-Dixie group VP marketing Mary Kellmanson said. “Teaming with our guests and team members, along with Feeding America, we are eager to make a difference and ease some of the pain caused by hunger in our communities.”

In addition, some stores will offer prepackaged nonperishables in $5 and $10 increments that can be donated to the regional food bank immediately after purchase at marked collection barrels near the store exit.

Along with Winn-Dixie, a number of corporate partners, including Bank of America, Dillard’s, HMSHost and Honey Baked Ham, have joined the effort with Feeding America to fight hunger this holiday season and support the Give a Meal campaign.

In addition to corporate sponsors across the country, the campaign also is being backed by celebrities, such as Rachael Ray, members of OneRepublic, Curtis Stone, Benji and Joel Madden, Samantha Harris and Katie Lee. A running counter will be displayed on the Feeding America website to tally the number of meals that have been donated during the campaign.