Florida grocer's donation to help provide 1 million meals

Winn-Dixie is donating $100,000 to food banks across Florida and southern Georgia as part of a campaign the Jacksonville-based grocer says will help provide more than 1 million meals to those in need.

The donation, funded by the Winn-Dixie Gives Foundation during Feeding America’s Hunger Action Month, will provide $10,000 each to 10 regional food banks. Recipients in the Business Observer’s coverage area include Feeding Tampa Bay, Sarasota-based All Faiths Food Bank and the Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida in Collier County.

Other recipients include Feeding Northeast Florida, Feeding South Florida, Feeding the Gulf Coast, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia, Second Harvest of the Big Bend and Treasure Coast Food Bank.

“As a grocer, nourishing our communities is more than what we do; it’s part of who we are,” Winn-Dixie President and CEO Raymond Rhee says in an announcement. “During Hunger Action Month and throughout the year, we’re honored to join Feeding America and the network of local partner food banks in helping expand access to nutritious food.”

Winn-Dixie also donated fresh produce and shelf-stable food to mobile pantries operated by Feeding Tampa Bay and Feeding Northeast Florida, the company says.

Feeding America, which is the largest domestic hunger-relief and food rescue organization in the U.S., says every dollar donated by Winn-Dixie provides at least 10 meals through its network of food banks. The organization estimates nearly 48 million people nationwide experience food insecurity each year, including one in five children.

The Winn-Dixie Company operates stores in Florida and southern Georgia. Its charitable foundation focuses on hunger relief, disaster response and other community programs.