BLACKSBURG – Earlier this fall, Kroger donated 500 turkeys to Feeding Southwest Virginia that will go to local families who rely on food banks and food pantries to feed their households.
The donation is a result of Touchdown for Turkeys, a campaign that encompassed Kroger pledging to donate 10 turkeys for every touchdown scored by the Hokies during the 2023 football season. Virginia Tech finished the season with 40 touchdowns, however, Kroger kicked the "extra point" and donated an additional 100 turkeys to bring the total to 500.
"Kroger is proud to partner with Virginia Tech football and Feeding Southwest Virginia to provide 500 turkeys for those in need through the Touchdowns for Turkeys program," Kroger Mid-Atlantic Division corporate affairs manager James Menees said. "We are also appreciative of the student-athletes and athletic department staff who volunteered their time to help facilitate the turkey delivery and pack food boxes to provide families with meals over the holidays. Touchdowns for Turkeys is one of our favorite partnerships and truly makes a difference in our communities."
"Any opportunity you have to give back to others in the community is always a blessing," cornerback Mansoor Delane shared. "So, coming out here with my teammates and taking advantage of the opportunity to give back to others with less opportunities is a blessing."
"Some people are less fortunate," running back Bhayshul Tuten explained, "so being able to help out and deliver meals is a great feeling."
Feeding Southwest Virginia was founded in 1981 and serves 26 counties, including nine city regions, providing food or meals to those in need.
About Kroger's Mid-Atlantic Division:
The Mid-Atlantic Division operates more than 100 stores in Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio. Based in Richmond, Virginia, the Mid-Atlantic Division employs about 18,000 associates. Kroger is dedicated to eliminating hunger in the communities it serves through partnerships with nine Feeding America food banks and numerous local organizations. The grocers Zero Hunger | Zero Waste efforts are aimed at ending hunger in Kroger communities and eliminating waste in stores by 2025. Kroger also supports breast cancer research, the military and their families and more than 4,000 nonprofit organizations. Last year, Kroger Mid-Atlantic donated 16.5 million meals to charity and 3,606,296 pounds of food to food bank partners.
Gallery: (12-13-2023) FB: Touchdown For Turkeys
