Kroger offers various ways to help the needy during the holidays

Cincinnati — To supply families in need with fresh food this holiday season, Kroger customers and associates will be able to purchase pre-filled bags and boxes of food to be added to collection barrels.



"Kroger has a proud history of investing in our communities and a rich tradition of bringing help and hope for the holidays," Lynn Marmer, Kroger's group VP corporate affairs said. "In keeping with that tradition, we are making it easy for our customers and associates to support their local food banks and The Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign in our family of stores this holiday season."



As a founding partner of Feeding America, the nation's largest domestic hunger agency, Kroger has been engaged in the hunger relief effort for more than 30 years, the grocer stated. Today, the Kroger family of stores has longstanding relationships with more than 80 local food banks.



This holiday season, customers can also help through a variety of simple donation opportunities. Making a financial donation to a local food bank is as easy as scanning a pre-marked tag at registers, asking the cashier to 'round up' a grocery order, or place spare change in specially-marked coin boxes at Kroger, City Market, Dillons, Baker's, Gerbes, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry's, QFC, Ralphs and Smith's stores, Kroger stated.



Customers can begin looking for The Salvation Army's iconic red kettles at the Kroger family of stores from the day after Thanksgiving until Christmas Eve. Each year, customers and associates generously support The Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign that provides food, clothing, toys and social services in the communities where funds are raised.



In 2012, Kroger customers and associates contributed $14.5 million to the campaign, which represents 10% of the total raised nationwide. All funds collected are used locally in the community where the donations are raised.