January 15, 2025 | News & Press Releases
Hy-Vee proudly announces today that it has achieved its bold goal of helping to provide 100 million meals* to Feeding America® and 19 partner food banks serving families experiencing hunger across the Midwest. Hy-Vee surpassed this milestone after a 20-month campaign that included customer donations as well as supplier donations of food and funds.
“Our customers and employees have been tremendous in supporting our fight against hunger, as have our supplier partners,” said Jeremy Gosch, chairman and CEO of Hy-Vee. "Thanks to them, 19 food banks and the thousands of pantries they support have been able to serve millions of families across the Midwest. When people come together, we truly can make a real difference for our neighbors and our 100 Million Meals Challenge demonstrated that."
Over the course of the campaign, customers were able to donate by rounding up their purchases to the nearest dollar during checkout. All funds collected at stores went directly to the 19 Feeding America partner food banks that operate in Hy-Vee’s nine-state region. Additionally, corporate donations from Hy-Vee and Hy-Vee’s supplier partners were instrumental in reaching the 100 million meal goal.
While the funds collected contributed to much of the campaign, national food suppliers also donated product to local food banks, including Hormel Foods, Smithfield and General Mills, as well as Hy-Vee stores amplifying its food rescue program — a vital part of food bank operations — amounting to more than nearly 17 million pounds of food donated by Hy-Vee stores. In total, Hy-Vee raised 102 million meals during the challenge.
"Congratulations to Hy-Vee on reaching the remarkable milestone of helping provide 100 million meals to people facing hunger in local communities! This achievement demonstrates the incredible impact we can make when people come together to pursue a shared goal,” said Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America. “Partners are essential to the movement to end hunger, and we are so grateful to Hy-Vee for their dedication and leadership in this vital effort."
Now that the 100 Million Meals Challenge has concluded, Hy-Vee and Feeding America plan to focus on childhood hunger in 2025. A new campaign will be announced in the upcoming weeks.
*$1 helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local member food banks. Pounds of food donated through in-store donations defines a meal as 1.2 pounds by the USDA.
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Hy-Vee, Inc. is an employee-owned corporation operating more than 570 business units across nine Midwestern states with sales of more than $13 billion annually. The supermarket chain is synonymous with quality, variety, convenience, healthy lifestyles, culinary expertise and superior customer service. Hy-Vee was recently named the No. 1 grocery store in America by USA TODAY. The company’s more than 75,000 employees provide “A Helpful Smile in Every Aisle” to customers every day. For additional information, visit www.hy-vee.com.
About Feeding America
Feeding America is committed to an America where no one is hungry. We support tens of millions of people who experience food insecurity to get the food and resources they say they need to thrive as part of a nationwide network of food banks, statewide food bank associations, food pantries and meal programs. We also invest in innovative solutions to increase equitable access to nutritious food, advocate for legislation that improves food security and work to address factors that impact food security, such as health, cost of living and employment. We partner with people experiencing food insecurity, policymakers, organizations, and supporters, united with them in a movement to end hunger. Visit FeedingAmerica.org to learn more.