C&S Supports the Goals of Hunger Action Month

Sept. 29, 2011 - PRLog -- In September, to honor the goals of national Hunger Action Month, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Inc. announced its continued commitment to alleviate hunger in communities where it operates. The company's effort took the form of employee engagement, food donations and investments in Feeding America and specific member food banks.
"Our employees as individuals, and our company as a whole, have rallied again during Hunger Action Month," said Gina Goff, Director of Community Involvement. "What we accomplished took the form of action, investment and food to make a difference in the lives of children and families." C&S’ corporate responsibility focus is on alleviating hunger in the United States.
Employee Action
To tap into the generosity of employees, and with the belief that there is something that everyone can do to help end hunger, C&S held its 9th annual Food for Kids Drive at all company locations. Employees donated peanut butter, soup, chili and other child-friendly food items, which were then given to the closest food bank. As in previous years, C&S is matching each pound of food collected with a $1 contribution to Feeding America to support national expansion of the BackPack Program. The aim of the BackPack Program is to meet the needs of hungry children by providing them with nutritious, easy-to-prepare food to take home on weekends and during school vacations when other resources are not available.
At the company's corporate headquarters, employees have tended two organic workplace gardens which are expected to yield an estimated one ton of fresh vegetables for the local community kitchen during the current harvest.
Food
As a mission partner to Feeding America, C&S Wholesale Grocers donates food to member food banks throughout the year. During Hunger Action Month, the company made special donations to Foodshare in Connecticut for their Convoy of Caring event, and also to the Vermont Food Bank for post-Hurricane Irene relief.
Investments
•   Central PA Food Bank, Harrisburg, Penn.
Contribution toward the BackPack Program will result in the participation of 200 children in York County. C&S operates a distribution center in York, Penn.
•   Fresno Community Food Bank, Fresno, Calif.
Support for the BackPack Program will reach 500 more children at four sites by the end of the 2012-13 school year. C&S operates a distribution center in Fresno.
•   Food Bank of Western New York, Buffalo, N.Y.
Grant to help the Food Bank expand the BackPack Program to an additional 860 children. C&S has distribution centers in Lancaster and Cheektowaga, N.Y.
•   Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Pennsylvania, Erie, Penn.
Funding to support a public awareness campaign about child hunger, monthly visit by the mobile food pantry to100 families at an elementary school in DuBois, Penn., and a nutrition education program for local children. C&S operates a distribution center in DuBois, Penn.
•   Harvest Hope Food Bank, Columbia, S.C.
Support to maintain the BackPack Program in Greenville, S.C. and to add 60 new children to the program. C&S operates a distribution center in Mauldin, S.C.
•   Vermont Foodbank, Barre, Vt.
Funds to expand the BackPack Program to an additional school in Brattleboro, Vt. reaching an additional 80 children. C&S operates a distribution center in Brattleboro.
•   Lehigh Valley Food Bank, Allentown, Penn.
Donations to the BackPack Buddies and Cooking Matters program will reach 60 children and additional families in Bethlehem, Penn. C&S operates a distribution center in Bethlehem.
•   Second Harvest Food Bank of San Joaquin, Manteca, Calif.
Funding to support a public awareness campaign for Food 4 Thought, a program at 15 sites in Stockton, Calif. More than 1,300 students enrolled in Food 4 Thought participate in eight hours of this academic after-school program and receive a bag of groceries twice each month. C&S operates a distribution center in Stockton.
•   New Hampshire Food Bank, Manchester, N.H.
Support to help the NH Food Bank move from a small, outdated facility to a larger, new location to better serve 400 agencies statewide. The C&S investment was in affiliation with the New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority.
•   Feeding America, Chicago, Ill.
Meeting the growing numbers of at-risk children requiring easy-to-eat meals for weekends and school vacations, C&S has continued to support Feeding America’s BackPack Program, a key component of Feeding America’s child hunger strategy.  Nearly 14-million children are estimated to be served by Feeding America, more than 3 million of which are younger than 5.

About C&S Wholesale Grocers
C&S Wholesale Grocers, Inc. is a privately owned company with annual sales of $19 billion. The company is the 10th largest privately held company in the nation, as ranked by Forbes magazine. Founded in 1918, C&S provides distribution services to grocery chains, independent stores and military bases, delivering to approximately 4,600 locations from its distribution centers in Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Alabama, California and Hawaii.
C&S community involvement programs support initiatives to fight hunger and to promote the health and enrichment of communities that are homes to the company's employees and facilities. To learn more: http://community.cswg.com.