Snack, Candy Companies Donate to COVID-19 Relief Efforts
By Hannah Hammond on Apr. 10, 2020CHICAGO — Snack and candy companies are donating food and funds to nonprofits helping in the fight against COVID-19.
From goPuff committing $1 million to help hospital workers in the United States to Freshly and Nestle partnering with Meals on Wheels America to feed the elderly, many convenience-store suppliers are giving back in a variety of ways.
Click through to see what else food companies are doing to help combat the coronavirus ...
Nestle and Freshly
Nestle and Freshly have partnered with Meals on Wheels America to help seniors, who are one of the most at-risk groups amid COVID-19. The two companies donated $500,000 to support Meals on Wheels COVID-19 Response Fund, which is helping communities across the country meet the increased demand for nutritious meals.
Nestle, Rosslyn, Va., acquired a minority stake in Freshly’s prepared-meal subscription business in 2017.
Mondelez
Mondelez International, Deerfield, Ill., is donating $15 million in financial and in-kind support to advance critical food stability and emergency relief efforts.
Support for this donation will come from Mondelez International Foundation and global and local brand initiatives. The foundation connects with at-risk communities around the world to promote healthy lifestyles.
General Mills
General Mills, Minneapolis, donated $5 million in grants to support food access in its key global markets and its manufacturing communities around the world.
“Our company’s purpose is to make food the world loves. But the unique circumstances of today call on General Mills to make food the world needs,” said Jeff Harmening, chairman and CEO of General Mills. “Our most important objectives are the continued health and safety of our employees and our ongoing ability to serve our consumers around the world. We see it as imperative that we help ensure a steady and reliable food supply for people and pets.”
The Hershey Co.
The Hershey Co., Hershey, Pa., has committed $2 million in cash and products to support COVID-19 response efforts around the world.
In the United States, its confectionery business is focusing its response on supporting basic needs organizations. It has also expanded its product donation efforts to include hospitals and healthcare organizations.
Cash donations have been made to organizations such as United Way Worldwide, Feeding America and the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, as well as several food banks in communities where Hershey operates.
Hershey has also worked with the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center to provide a temporary logistics space for the expanded supply chain operations of all Penn State Health locations, in addition to other initiatives.
Conagra Brands
Conagra Brands, Chicago, provides ongoing product donations to Feeding America, a U.S. hunger relief organization.
So far this fiscal year, Conagra has donated the equivalent of more than 16 million meals to the organization. From March 17 to March 27, Conagra donated the equivalent of an additional 2.1 million meals to Feeding America.
Conagra also launched remote food drives at its Chicago and Omaha offices to support local hunger relief agencies. The Chicago food drive collected 3,860 pounds of food, and the Omaha drive resulted in 22 pallets of food.
Conagra is also expediting cash contributions totaling more than $1.75 million to nonprofit groups such as Feeding America, the Greater Chicago Food Depository and the Food Bank for the Heartland in Omaha to address their increased needs.
Mars
Mars Inc. will donate an initial cash and in-kind donation of $20 million to support the people, pets and communities most affected by COVID-19, according to the McLean, Va.-based company.
The donation includes $5 million to CARE for critical supplies and expertise that the nonprofit organization will deploy in the developing world, $2 million to the United Nations World Food Programme and $1 million to Humane Society International.
goPuff
Philadelphia-based delivery startup goPuff is helping local small businesses that have recently closed down due to stay-at-home orders by making their products available for delivery. Customers can now use goPuff to buy products from places such as Federal Donuts and La Colombe.
GoPuff also committed $1 million in orders to U.S. healthcare workers and is offering any employee of participating hospitals a free goPuff order and free delivery.
The company has also expanded delivery and recently announced an expedited launch of service in six new locations: Columbus, Ohio; Buffalo, N.Y.; Portland, Ore.; Pensacola, Fla.; Manchester, N.H.; and Houston.