Hannaford Launches Initiative to Help Children

PRESS RELEASE

Scarborough, Maine -- At-risk children will attend local summer camps and youth development programs, and gain access to nutritious food and school supplies, as part of a new $400,000

Hannaford Helps

donation.

The gift from Hannaford Supermarkets represents a 10 percent increase in the $4 million in funds that the company and its charitable foundation contribute to local charities each year. All of the new money is focused on helping children who face barriers to their success in life.

"With these Hannaford Helps contributions we are focusing on the fact that a community is only as strong as its next generation," said Hannaford President Mike Vail.

A quarter million dollars of the

Hannaford Helps

initiative will provide funding for more than 200 low-income children to attend youth development programs focused in increasing their aspirations, giving them new life skills and helping them accomplish their full potential.

"We're really excited about the impact of these donations because of the nature of these organizations," Vail said. "We are proud to support the work of educators, counselors, coaches and volunteers who are so impressive in their commitment to develop young people in the communities where our associates live and work."

The remaining $150,000 will purchase nutritious food for school pantries and other programs focused on helping needy children who are at risk of going hungry, as well as in providing school supplies and gift cards for teachers' use.

Hannaford Helps

has set a goal of increasing the amount of meat, produce, bread and other fresh items donated directly from Hannaford stores to community food pantries and meal programs by 20% or 1.5 million meals in 2016. Hannaford donated 14.6 million pounds of rescued food to hunger relief last year.