United Way of Columbia County received a $4,000 grant from Safeway Foundation’s Nourishing Neighbors Program to combat hunger during the summer months and after school hours when school-aged children face higher rates of food insecurity. The grant is part of the “Fight Hunger, Serve Hope” initiative from Safeway’s private label brand O Organics.

United Way of Columbia County will use this grant to provide additional summer food to three rural food pantries as well as make direct deliveries to families with children 0-18 throughout the summer months.

Safeway’s private label brand O Organics has donated a total of $7 million in 2024 to the Nourishing Neighbors Program to fund grants dedicated to enhancing school breakfasts, providing weekend breakfast food, backpack programs with food to take home, summer breakfast meals and many other breakfast-related programs. This follows a 2023 donation of $7 million to fund similar grants for at-risk youth. 

Nourishing Neighbors is a charitable program of the Safeway Foundation. The program aims to eradicate hunger in America by keeping food banks stocked and supporting meal distribution programs at schools. In 2023, along with the Albertsons Companies Foundation, the company contributed over $200 million in food and financial support, including over $40 million through the Nourishing Neighbors Program, to ensure at-risk children, adults, seniors and families have access to the food they need to thrive.

United Way of Columbia County is proud to partner with Nourishing Neighbors to help fight hunger issues in our community.