Kellogg Company Takes Lead in Combating Summer Hunger

Kellogg Company last week released details about multiple programs and partnerships it has established to help in the fight against summer hunger in 2020, including a $70,000 to United Way and collaborations with grocers Hy-Vee and Food Lion to raise funds to combat hunger.

It’s now estimated that 18 million kids (1 in 4) in the US could face hunger because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company has long been committed to addressing the issue of food security year-round through its Kellogg’s Better Days global purpose platform (http://crreport.kelloggcompany.com/better-days-commitment-overview), but the need is heightened this summer.

• Kellogg has donated $70,000 to United Way to support programs that offer free summer breakfasts and lunches for children in Battle Creek, Des Moines, Dallas and Seattle. Summer meal programs ensure that children and families in underserved communities continue to receive consistent access to nutritious meals.
• Throughout July, Kellogg is partnering with regional grocer Hy-Vee for the “End Summer Hunger” campaign, supporting Feeding America. Specially marked packages of Kellogg’s Frosted Mini-Wheats, Kellogg’s Club Crackers and Town House Crackers will inform shoppers that Kellogg will make a donation to food banks in Hy-Vee communities each time that item is purchased. Kellogg has committed to distribute up to $100,000 among 17 food banks.
• In June, Kellogg supported regional grocer Food Lion’s “Summers Without Hunger” campaign. Food Lion shoppers had the opportunity to make a $5 donation to Food Lion Feeds via a “virtual food donation backpack,” which triggered a matching gift of $5 in food from Kellogg and other participating brands to the shopper’s local food bank. In all, Kellogg donated a total of 250,000 Nutri-Grain bars, cereals and snacks.
• Earlier this year, Kellogg donated $850,000 to support school breakfast programs. Some of those funds were advanced for immediate COVID relief and the rest of the funds continue to aid No Kid Hungry’s hunger relief work, including through the summer months.
• Kellogg also extended its annual support of Food Research & Action Center’s (FRAC) summer breakfast report (https://frac.org/research/resource-library/hunger-doesnt-take-a-vacation-summer-breakfast-status-report-2019) and its companion summer lunch report (https://frac.org/research/resource-library/hunger-doesnt-take-a-vacation-summer-nutrition-status-report-2019), which measure successes and shortfalls in reaching hungry children in the US. FRAC will also use Kellogg-sponsored funds to help drive awareness and share best practices and start-up costs for implementing summer breakfast service in multiple locations.

“Feeding children in need is especially challenging this summer, as many of the standard models for providing meals to kids in communities have needed to change due to the pandemic,” said Stephanie Slingerland, Kellogg Company’s Senior Director, Philanthropy and Social Impact.

“Summer feeding programs have implemented neighborhood meal delivery service, while others have set up remote grab-and-go stations. And some have had to temporarily suspend or scale back their meal service,” Slingerland said. “Kellogg will continue to support communities in the coming months, and we thank our food bank and charity partners for the incredible work they’re doing to feed children and families.”