SpartanNash Hosts Mass Volunteer Event, Packing 500,000 Meals for Families in Crisis

Food solutions company SpartanNash mobilized 850 volunteers for its annual Helping Hands Day. This year, the company packed 500,000 meals and 5,000 hygiene kits, an estimated retail value of $1.7 million, to help communities in crisis. Each box packed will feed a family of four for one week and will be distributed by nonprofit partner Convoy of Hope to disaster-affected areas across the US. In addition, Convoy of Hope was presented with a check for $100,000 from the SpartanNash Foundation.

“As a People First company, it’s not just about food – it’s about giving people hope when they need it most. Our mission is simple: to deliver the ingredients for a better life – and that means showing up when people need us most,” said SpartanNash CEO Tony Sarsam. “In a world where crises and natural disasters are growing more frequent, we’re proud to ramp up our efforts and partner with our suppliers and Convoy of Hope to bring these meals to those who need them across the country.”

Associates from SpartanNash; supplier partners from W.K. Kellogg Foundation^®, Hormel^®, Country Fresh^® Dairy, Del Monte Foods™, Kellanova™, Quaker^® and more; student volunteers from Calvin University; and nonprofit partners Convoy of Hope, Operation Homefront^® and Folds of Honor^® all packed 15 18-wheelers of food.

Donations were collected by supplier partners including:

Seneca^® Foods – Green Giant^® Vegetables
Del Monte Foods™ – Canned Fruit and Pasta Sauce
Kraft Heinz™ – Kraft Mac & Cheese™ and Kool-Aid^®
Sun-Maid^® – Sun-Maid Raisins
Country Fresh^® Dairy – Aseptic Milk
General Mills^® – Nature Valley^® Granola Bars
Kellanova – Kelloggs^® Zesta^® Original Crackers
Hometown Foods^® – Hungry Jack^® Pancake Mix
Winland Foods™ – Creamette^® Pasta
Hormel^® – SPAM^®
PepsiCo^® – Rice-A-Roni^® and Pasta Roni^®
The J.M. Smucker Company™ – Smuckers^® Jelly
W.K. Kellogg Foundation – Kellogg’s^® Rice Krispies^® Cereal
StarKist^® Company – StarKist^® Tuna
PIM Brands, Inc. – Welch’s^® Fruit Snacks
Musco Family Olive Co.^® – Pearls Olives™
Procter & Gamble – Oral-B^® Toothbrushes and Ivory^® Soap
Emmerson Brands™ – Suave^® Shampoo
Colgate^® – Toothpaste
Gojo^® – Purell^® Hand Sanitizer
Haleon^® – Sensodyne^® Toothpaste

Helping Hands Day meal boxes also included Our Family^® Canned Chicken, Canned Pasta, Soup and Peanut Butter.

In 2024, Convoy of Hope responded to 53 disasters in the US. The team was on the frontlines serving more than 700,000 people by distributing more than 14 million pounds of food in 328 communities. Last year, SpartanNash’s contribution helped families affected by Hurricanes Beryl and Helene, as well as communities in the Carolinas during Thanksgiving.

“SpartanNash’s unwavering commitment and partnership in disaster relief has been so valuable for us,” said Convoy of Hope Vice President, Public Engagement Ethan Forhetz. “Their support ensures that when disaster strikes, we can respond immediately, bringing hope, comfort and essential supplies to families in crisis.”

For more information or to donate to Convoy of Hope, visit convoyofhope.org.