WEST BRIDGEWATER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Shaw’s Supermarkets has partnered with the American Red Cross to help raise funds to support their ongoing efforts in response to Tropical Storm Irene here in Vermont as well as their local disaster relief fund.
From now until October 27, customers can purchase $1 and $5 dollar “pinups” at participating stores in Vermont and in the Lebanon, New Hampshire area to show their support for their neighbors affected by Tropical Storm Irene as well the over one hundred fires, floods and other disasters that the American Red Cross responds to each year in our region. All of the proceeds raised from the campaign will go directly to the American Red Cross in support of their disaster relief efforts in Vermont and the Upper Valley of New Hampshire. In addition, Shaw’s will also match the donations up to $35,000.
“Like many in Vermont, Shaw’s was impacted by flooding from Irene and we know firsthand that many are still dealing with the aftermath from the flooding,” said Mike Stigers, president, Shaw’s. “The support that Vermonters have given to us, and to each other, has been extraordinary and we wanted to launch this program with the Red Cross to enable continued support to those still in need.”
“Tropical Storm Irene left a wide path of destruction and the scale of the response was both massive, yet at the same time very local as businesses, communities and individuals pitched in to help their neighbors,” said Larry Crist, Regional Executive for the American Red Cross of Vermont & the New Hampshire Valley. “The money raised by Shaw’s and its customers during this campaign will help provide the resources necessary so that the American Red Cross can continue to shelter, feed and assist people in the aftermath of disaster.”
Shaw’s has also worked closely with the Vermont Foodbank as part of the recovery effort. To date, the company has donated close to $70,000 in food and grants to the Food Bank.
“Shaw’s was one of the first calls we received asking ‘what do you need?’ after Irene hit,” said John Sayles, CEO of the Vermont Foodbank. “The ice, water, cleaning supplies and ready-to-eat food went right back into the hardest hit communities in the state. Shaw’s is a great partner in hunger relief every day, and we know Shaw’s will be with us for the long-term recovery effort in Vermont.”
Shaw’s Ludlow Store
Work continues on the Shaw’s
location in Ludlow, Vt., which suffered massive flooding and
necessitating a complete rebuild of the inside. The company anticipates
having the store completely redone and open by the middle of December.
Shaw’s has been operating a temporary store under a tent in the parking
lot of Ludlow location since a week after the storm.
“Certainly setting-up a temporary outdoor store was something we hadn’t done before,” added Stigers. “However, as the only grocery store in the area, we wanted to do what we could to help serve the community there and we hope we’ve been able to do that.”
About Shaw’s Supermarkets
Shaw’s, Osco and Star Market are
part of the nationwide SUPERVALU® INC. (NYSE: SVU) family of grocery
stores. Shaw’s is one of the oldest continuously operated supermarkets
in the United States with its roots dating to 1860. Throughout five New
England states, there are 169 store locations employing approximately
21,000 associates. For more information about Shaw’s, visit the all-new
web site at: www.shaws.com.
About SUPERVALU INC.
SUPERVALU INC. is one of the largest
companies in the U.S. grocery channel with annual sales of approximately
$37 billion. SUPERVALU serves customers across the United States through
a network of approximately 4,290 stores composed of 1,107 traditional
retail stores, including 801 in-store pharmacies; 1,283 hard-discount
stores, of which 907 are operated by licensee owners; and 1,900
independent stores serviced primarily by the company's traditional food
distribution business. SUPERVALU has approximately 140,000 employees.
For more information about SUPERVALU visit http://www.supervalu.com.