Bags of Food Drive Sees Save A Lot Donate More Than 100,000 to Charities Nationwide
With the support and generosity of its customers nationwide, Save A Lot, one of the largest discount grocery chains in the United States, has once again demonstrated the power of community-driven giving. Through its annual Bags for a Brighter Holiday initiative, the retailer successfully donated 103,656 bags of nutritious, high-quality food to local charities and food pantries working tirelessly to combat hunger during the holiday season.
The initiative, which ran throughout October, November, and December, invited Save A Lot shoppers to purchase pre-assembled bags of essential grocery items at their local stores. Each purchased bag was then donated directly to nearby food charities, ensuring that the assistance remained rooted in the communities where it was needed most. By turning everyday grocery shopping into an opportunity to give back, Save A Lot empowered customers to play an active role in addressing food insecurity at a time of year when demand for assistance traditionally rises.
To further strengthen the impact of the program, Save A Lot committed an additional $50,000 in gift cards, distributed among 116 participating charitable organizations. These gift cards allow food pantries and community organizations to purchase groceries as needed, offering flexibility to meet specific local demands and respond quickly to changing needs.
Altogether, the Bags for a Brighter Holiday campaign resulted in approximately $548,952.93 worth of food and gift card donations, significantly boosting the resources available to families facing food insecurity. Each donated bag contained a thoughtful assortment of both private-label and well-known branded food products, including pantry staples such as pasta, stuffing mix, canned vegetables, and other shelf-stable grocery essentials. These items were carefully selected to help families prepare nourishing meals and stretch limited food budgets during the holiday season and beyond.
Broad Participation Across the Save A Lot Network
The success of the initiative was driven by strong participation across Save A Lot’s store network. A total of 453 Save A Lot locations took part in the program, highlighting the widespread commitment of store owners, team members, and shoppers to supporting hunger-relief efforts.
Notably, 18 stores exceeded the milestone of selling more than 1,000 donation bags each, underscoring the exceptional engagement seen in certain communities. Among the top-performing locations were:
- Tampa, Florida (2271 E. Bearss Ave.), which led the program with an impressive 4,448 bags donated
- Tyrone, Pennsylvania (111 W. 13th St.), contributing 2,380 bags
- Ashland, Ohio (161 Center St.), with 2,067 bags
- Pickens, South Carolina (529 Hampton Ave. Hwy 8), donating 2,045 bags
- Jamestown, Tennessee (407 North Main St.), which provided 1,814 bags
Additional standout locations included stores in DeMotte, Indiana; Monticello, Kentucky; Danville, West Virginia; Whitwell, Tennessee; and Ontario, New York, each contributing well over 1,000 bags. Communities in Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland were particularly well represented among the top contributors, reflecting both regional need and strong local engagement.
These results illustrate how localized efforts, when combined across a national retail network, can generate a substantial collective impact.
Customers at the Center of the Mission
Save A Lot leadership emphasized that the program’s success is a direct reflection of its customer base. According to Bill Mayo, Chief Executive Officer of Save A Lot, the campaign reinforced the company’s belief that customers are at the heart of everything it does.
“This year’s results for this initiative show all of us at Save A Lot that our customers really are the heart of our business,” Mayo said. “We recognized the need to launch this program early to help those who needed it the most, and our customers responded in a big way. Knowing the positive impact all these bags of food will have for communities around the country is inspiring.”
Launching the program early in the holiday season allowed food pantries to begin distributing donations well before year-end, helping them manage increased demand and prepare for winter months when food insecurity often intensifies.
A Local Approach to Giving Back
A defining feature of the Bags for a Brighter Holiday program is its local focus. Save A Lot stores are locally owned and operated, enabling each location to partner with charities that understand the specific needs of their community. This approach ensures that donations stay close to home and reach individuals and families who rely on nearby support networks.
Beyond this seasonal initiative, Save A Lot locations regularly engage in a wide range of community-focused activities. Stores support local food banks, sponsor in-store fundraisers, host product donation drives, and participate in community events designed to strengthen relationships with customers and nonprofit partners alike. These ongoing efforts reflect the company’s broader commitment to doing “A Lot of Good” in the neighborhoods it serves.
By combining affordable grocery options with meaningful community engagement, Save A Lot positions itself as more than just a retailer. The company aims to be a reliable partner for families seeking value, as well as a dependable supporter of organizations addressing hunger and food access.
Addressing an Ongoing Need
Food insecurity remains a pressing issue across the United States, affecting millions of households each year. Programs like Bags for a Brighter Holiday play an important role in supplementing the efforts of food banks and charities, especially during periods of heightened demand. The scale of this year’s donations demonstrates how collaborative efforts between retailers, customers, and nonprofits can help bridge critical gaps.
As Save A Lot looks ahead, the company continues to emphasize the importance of customer participation in its charitable initiatives. The success of the 2024 Bags for a Brighter Holiday campaign serves as a powerful reminder that small individual actions—such as purchasing a single bag of groceries—can add up to meaningful change when embraced collectively.
Through the generosity of its customers, the dedication of its store teams, and partnerships with local charities, Save A Lot’s latest campaign has delivered tangible support to families in need, reinforcing its mission to provide both value and positive impact in communities across the country.
Source Link:https://www.businesswire.com/
