For Immediate Release: January 22, 2009 Contact: Eddie Owens, United Supermarkets, 806.788. 4863 or 806.928.0462
Lyn Garcia, South Plains Food Bank, 806.763.3003 or 806.252.9930
United Supermarkets, South Plains Food Bank
Join Forces for “Fresh Recovery” Program
LUBBOCK (special) - United Supermarkets and South Plains Food Bank (SPFB) announced today the establishment of a “Fresh Recovery” store pick-up program which will provide needy families access to fresh food from United’s Lubbock locations.
Through the program United will donate fresh meat, produce, deli items and dairy products that are still usable but are approaching the “sell by” date. Donated products are pulled from stores shelves and stored at the proper temperature. Each day SPFB refrigeration trucks will pick up the donated items from the nine Lubbock stores and return it to the food bank. The food will then be distributed to SPFB clients within 24
hours.
“This program will provide our families with a greater variety and mix of food items,” said David Weaver, the food bank’s executive director. “The food will also provide recipients the opportunity to enjoy healthier, more nutritious meals.”
Food bank trucks already are picking up donated food from United stores at 98th and Quaker (Market Street) and 82nd and Frankford. The company’s other local Market Street store, at 50th and Indiana, will join the program in early February, with other stores to follow suit about every two weeks.
Donated products include fluid milk products, eggs, chilled prepared salads and deli-prepared chilled wrapped sandwiches, raw beef and lunch meat, prepackaged bags of fresh leafy greens, bananas, and prepackaged fruits and vegetables.
Officials anticipate the program will bring an additional 9,000 pounds of food to the food bank each week.South Plains Food Bank currently provides 18,000 meals per week to families in need. “This additional fresh food will be a wonderful addition to the canned and boxed food items already being provided,” Weaver said.
The new program further solidifies the long-term partnership enjoyed by the two Lubbock entities, according to Tony Crumpton, United’s chief merchandising officer and a food bank board member.
“The mission of food banks in the trade areas served by United Supermarkets is a natural extension of our company’s mission,” Crumpton said. “We applaud the efforts of South Plains Food Bank throughout its entire history and are thrilled at the opportunity to be a part of this new effort.”
Products donated to the program are fully safe for consumption, Weaver noted.
“Food safety is utmost in our minds at all times,” he said. “United management and food bank staff have reviewed and outlined stringent food safety guidelines for the program.”
“These local efforts are in concert with the program developed recently by Feeding America and the Conference for Food Protection that allows for foods requiring refrigeration to be safely distributed to charity using refrigerated vehicles,” explained Cheryn Hargrave, food safety specialist for United Supermarkets, LLC.
Funding for an additional truck and driver to support the food bank’s efforts were made possible by funding from the Lincy Foundation.
“We are so grateful to United Supermarkets for once again stepping forward to ensure that all our citizens are cared for and provided with the basic necessities for a productive and fulfilling life.”