FRY’S $60,000 DONATION

FRY’S FOOD STORES KICK OFF HUNGER ACTION MONTH WITH $60,000 DONATION TO ST. MARY’S FROM ITS “BRING HOPE TO THE TABLE®” CAMPAIGN

Fry’s and St. Mary’s Employees On Hand for Check Presentation on Sept. 1;  Press Conference Begins “30 Ways in 30 Days” to Raise Hunger Awareness

Phoenix, AZ – With Governor Jan Brewer having proclaimed September as “Hunger Action Month” in the state of Arizona, Fry’s Food Stores will kick off a month of hunger awareness activities with a $60,000 check presentation to St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance on Thursday Sept. 1 at the Fry’s Mercado at 4320 W. McDowell Road.

Fry’s Zone 1 Operations Supervisor and St. Mary’s Board of Directors member Nicki Schillhahn-Amos will make the presentation to St. Mary’s President and CEO Terry Shannon at 8 a.m. with employees of both Fry’s and St. Mary’s enjoying breakfast provided by the Fry’s Mercado. It will also serve as a kick off to St. Mary’s “30 Ways in 30 Days” calendar of events featuring ways to fight hunger in Arizona during every day of Hunger Action Month. Fry’s will also have a display of the Food Bank 30 “Most Needed Items” on display for those interested in making a food donation.

The check presentation to St. Mary’s is part of Fry’s and The Kroger Co. nationwide “Bring Hope to the Table®” campaign, which will donate $3 million in funds and $1 million in product to help those struggling with hunger in the communities where the company operates. All told, the program has directed $20 million in funds and food to local food banks as they struggle to meet the demand across the country. Thursday’s donation will allow St. Mary’s to distribute enough food to provide about 420,000 meals to clients and through agency partners.

Fry’s has become a strong and valued friend of St. Mary’s. Its stores donate more than two million pounds of fruits, vegetables, breads, pastries and other food through the food rescue program, providing food for the more than 400 member agencies at 600 locations in two-thirds of Arizona’s 15 counties. Fry’s employees also regularly volunteer to help sort donated food and pack emergency food boxes for distribution.

“We are so grateful to Fry’s Food Stores and Kroger for their continued and constant support of food banks and the battle against hunger in Arizona,” said Terry Shannon, President and CEO of St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance. “The combined donations of time, money and food prove Fry’s commitment to the community and how important they see this mission to be.”