DURHAM, N.C. Aug. 1, 2017 – The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR), the nation’s largest traditional grocery retailer with 14 stores throughout the Triangle and North Carolina, has announced that it has partnered with the Durham Area Transit Authority to host the 5th annual “Fill the Bus” food drive. The food drive will take place on Saturday, August 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kroger’s Durham store, located at 3457 Hillsborough Road.

The goal is to physically fill an entire bus with donations, which will go directly to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina (FBCENC). Summer is an especially critical time for FBCENC to collect donations because many children do not have access to food and other necessities they would otherwise receive at school. Many of these families turn to their local food bank for assistance, so the supply is often diminished during these months.

To help restock the food bank’s shelves, all 14 stores in the Triangle will have collection boxes set up throughout the week leading up to August 12. Besides nonperishable food, the drive will be collecting diapers and wipes, feminine products, hand sanitizers, toothbrushes, soap, shaving products, toilet tissue and paper towels for residents of North Carolina in need of assistance.

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“We are excited to once again partner with the Durham Area Transit Authority for this year’s ‘Fill the Bus’ food drive,” said Allison McGee, corporate affairs manager for Kroger’s mid-Atlantic marketing region. “The families in our local communities are so important to us, and we value any opportunity to give back to those who are in need.”

“We’re incredibly thankful for the support of the Durham Kroger “Fill the Bus” Food Drive,” said FBCENC Senior Manager for Communications Jessica Slider Whichard. “Summer is a crucial time of need for the families we serve—their budgets are already stretched incredibly thin. Thanks to the dedication of community partners like Kroger, we are able to continue working to ensure no one goes hungry.”

About Kroger’s Mid-Atlantic Division:

The Mid-Atlantic Division operates 121 stores, 118 pharmacies and 93 fuel centers in Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio. Headquartered in Roanoke, the Mid-Atlantic Division is dedicated to making a difference in the communities it serves by supporting hunger relief, women’s health, our troops and their families, and local schools and grassroots organizations. Kroger is also a strong supporter of the Salvation Army, American Red Cross and organizations that promote the advancement of women and minorities. Fortune magazine named Kroger the “most generous company in America” and The Reputation Institute ranked Kroger among the Top 100 of America’s Most Reputable Companies. For more information, visit www.kroger.com.

About the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina

The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina is a nonprofit organization that has provided food for people at risk of hunger in 34 counties in central and eastern North Carolina for more than 30 years. The Food Bank serves a network of more than 800 partner agencies such as soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, and programs for children and adults through warehouses in Durham, Greenville, New Bern, Raleigh, the Sandhills (Southern Pines), and Wilmington. In fiscal year 2015-2016, the Food Bank distributed more than 64.4 million pounds of food (60% of which was perishable) and non-food essentials through these agencies. Sadly, hunger remains a serious problem in central and eastern North Carolina. In these counties, more than 600,000 people struggle to access nutritious and adequate amounts of food necessary for an active and healthy life. foodbankcenc.org.

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