Giant launches holiday support for community organizations

The Giant Co. marked Giving Tuesday by kicking off its annual holiday giving — donating $57,500 to 11 community organizations working to combat food insecurity and support families in need.

Organizations receiving donations include several in the Greater Philadelphia region. Recipients of the donations include:

CARING FOR FRIENDS » The Philadelphia-based organization will use the donation to help fulfill 2,000 snack bags to benefit homebound and homeless individuals and families in need.

CHURCH WORLD SERVICES » Church World Services in Harrisburg will use the donation to support its efforts to welcome and resettle refugees.

DOWNTOWN DAILY BREAD » Serving Harrisburg, Downtown Daily Bread will use the donation to fulfill snack bags to distribute to individuals facing homelessness.

GARDEN OF HEALTH » Located in North Wales, Montgomery County, Garden of Health will deliver holiday meals to 250 families.

JEVS HUMAN SERVICES » The donation will help Philadelphia kids stay warm this winter by purchasing coats for JEVS Human Services’ youth programs.

KEYSTONE OPPORTUNITY CENTER » Keystone Opportunity Center, Chester, manages Fresh For All, a food distribution program, which The Giant Co.’s donation will support.

LANCASTER COUNTY PROJECT FOR THE NEEDY » The Lancaster County Project for the Needy will use the donation to provide food boxes to nearly 3,000 families.

PHOENIXVILLE AREA COMMUNITY SERVICES » The Phoenixville, Chester County, organization will use the donation to help restock its emergency distribution food pantry.

SALVATION ARMY LANCASTER » The organization will distribute GIANT gift cards to area families facing food insecurity.

TEAM THOMPSON FAMILY FOUNDATION » The Philadelphia-based foundation will use its funds to donate coats and gifts to local families.

WARREN COUNTY COALITION PROGRAM » With its donation, the Warren County Coalition in Front Royal, Va. will help combat hunger through its backpack and food distribution programs.

“Caring for Friends is giving thanks to The Giant Company for its donation to help feed our Greater Philadelphia neighbors in need, many of whom are having a challenging year trying to meet their budgets in the face of inflation, supply chain issues, and utility prices,” Vince Schiavone, CEO, Caring for Friends, said in a statement.

In addition to Giving Tuesday, The Giant Co. is donating meals, and employees are volunteering through the holiday season, according to the release.

• A total of 3,000 hams and 1,150 chickens will be donated to 18 community food banks and food pantries, in addition to the more than 13,000 Thanksgiving turkeys and chickens donated earlier this month to community partners combatting food insecurity.

• Throughout November and December, Giant team members will volunteer more than 500 hours to support community organizations.

Customers can round up their purchase at checkout to benefit their local food bank or pantry or by purchasing reusable bags to benefit Feeding America. So far this year, $6.5 million has been donated by customers rounding up at the register, the company said.