All the Amazing Ways Your Favorite Grocery Brands Are Helping with COVID-19 Relief

This might seem like a weird statement, but there is a lot of good going on in the world right now. While we all figure out ways to flatten the curve, get food and resources to those in need, and boost the global economy, a lot of people are coming together in interesting and surprising ways. And this, of course, includes some of our favorite food brands and grocery stores, too.

With COVID-19 having long-lasting effects that we still can’t even fathom, it’s nice to see big companies stepping up to give back even more than they already do. (Especially considering these two sectors have been working overtime to make sure shoppers have access to the essentials.) Because we know that most Kitchn readers (that’s you!) feel good about supporting brands who are making a difference, we decided to shout about them from a virtual rooftop — with plenty of social distance.

So here, goes. We present you with a list of some of the most generous companies that are giving back right now. This list is, by no means, complete. Some of these companies are doing even more than what’s outlined here, and there are countless others helping out too. Let’s take a look.

• Anheuser-Busch: As part of a $5 million donation to the American Red Cross, the beer company is identifying available arenas and stadiums to be used for temporary blood drive centers and donating TV airtime to the Red Cross for public service announcements.
• Campbell’s: Campbell’s has donated approximately $2.5 million in cash and food to organizations in its 33 hometowns across the country. The company is working to provide direct financial support to local food banks, pantries, or community organizations.
• The Clorox Company: Clorox, the company that makes those super-in-demand wipes and also owns Hidden Valley, announced that it will donate $3 million to Direct Relief, $1 million to the CDC Foundation, and $1 million to American Red Cross.
• The Coca-Cola Company: The Coca-Cola Foundation, the philanthropic arm of The Coca-Cola Company, is awarding $13.5 million in grants to five nonprofit organizations working on the front lines of the U.S. and Canadian humanitarian response to the coronavirus pandemic.
• Conagra Brands: In addition to product donations (equivalent to 2.1 million meals just in the span of March 17 to March 26), Conagra is sending more than $1.75 million in cash to organizations including Feeding America, Greater Chicago Food Depository, and Food Bank for the Heartland in Omaha. Conagra, for your reference, owns several brands including Duncan Hines, Hunts, Birds Eye, Marie Callender’s, and more.
• Danone North America: Danone North America — which includes Dannon, Horizon Organic, Silk, So Delicious Dairy Free, and more — announced a $1.2 million donation in funds, plus an additional $300,000 in product donations, to organizations making a local impact on food access in communities across the country.
• Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods: Dr. Praeger’s (which was founded by real doctors!) has offered to reimburse grocery store employees who send their grocery receipts to grocerybill@drpraegers.com. The Dr. Praeger’s grocery receipt fund will repay up to $20,000 total in bills. 
• General Mills: The General Mills Foundation is donating $5 million in charitable gifts to help make sure that the most vulnerable children have access to meals, despite school and community program closures.
• J.M. Smucker Company: To help charitable organizations out of a jam, the J.M. Smucker company is donating $300,000 in total to the Red Cross, Feeding America, and the United Way. The company is also donating food from its various brands to Feeding America and the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.
• Kellogg: In support of their continued coronavirus relief efforts, Kellogg advanced its $1 million maximum pledge to Feeding America.
• Kraft Heinz: As one of the world’s largest food companies, Kraft Heinz has committed $12 million to coronavirus relief all around the globe. That includes $1.9 million in cash to Feeding America, $4.7 million worth of products to Feeding America member food banks, and more.
• Land O’ Lakes: The farmer-owned co-op company is investing in employees by paying additional wages and putting new sanitation and protective regiments in order.
• McCormick: McCormick recently committed to supporting charitable organizations in the nearly 20 countries where they operate. To support the hard-hit restaurant community, McCormick will also be contributing to a fund to help restaurant employees and their families in areas where McCormick operates. The company has also donated condiments to area restaurants still open for carryout and delivery.
• Nestlé: The Switzerland-based chocolate company has joined forces with the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. It will donate 10 million in Swiss Francs (plus food and water) to countries where it’s needed most.
• Mars: Mars (the family-owned company behind brands like Uncle Ben’s, Twix, Pedigree, and more) has committed $20 million to support the people, pets, and communities most affected by COVID-19. This includes a $5 million donation to CARE, $2 million for the United Nation’s World Food Programme, and $1 million to the Humane Society International.
• PepsiCo: On April 2, PepsiCo announced a more than $45 million initiative, which includes $15.8 million in North America alone (mostly to help out-of-school children who no longer have access to free or reduced meals) and $7.7 million in Europe to help bolster local health systems.
• Unilever: Unilever United States (the parent company to brands like Ben & Jerry’s, Knorr, Lipton, and Talenti), is donating more than $8 million in food, soap, personal hygiene, and home cleaning products. The company is also donating more than 200,000 masks to local hospitals in New Jersey to help those on the front lines.
• Vita Coco: The coconut water brand has seen an unexpected surge in sales, as shoppers stock up. In response, Vita Coco is donating $1 million of its pandemic profits to Feeding America and No Kid Hungry. (The company’s CEO and cofounder is also challenging other businesses who are profiting right now, like Netflix and Charmin, to follow his lead.) 

• Aldi: On April 2, Aldi announced it will be donating $1 million to community organizations to support those in need.
• Food Lion: Food Lion has committed $500,000 to its Feeding America affiliated community food bank partners in the towns and cities where Food Lion operates. And an additional $100,000 will be donated to Feeding America to support its overall response efforts.
• Giant Food: Based in the greater Washington, D.C. area, Giant Food donated $550,000 and 1,200 hams to five Feeding America food banks in the area.
• Hannaford: Hannaford has given $550,000 to food banks in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, and Massachusetts, plus an additional $200,000 to organizations that work with homeless people.
• Kroger: As a part of its Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation, Kroger is splitting $3 million between the foundation’s nonprofit partners, Feeding America and No Kid Hungry.
• Publix: The southern grocery chain is donating a total of $1 million to Feeding America member food banks all around Florida, Tennessee, the Carolinas, Virginia, Georgia, and Alabama.
• Stop & Shop: Stop & Shop committed $1 million to be divided among its 13 regional food bank partners. 
• Target: Target announced that it’s investing more than $300 million in added wages, a new paid leave program, bonus payouts, and relief fund contributions.
• Walmart: Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have committed $25 million to support organizations on the front lines responding to the outbreak.
• Wegmans: The cult-favorite grocery chain is donating $4 million, spread across all its partner food banks.

Any other great companies you’ve been working with or seeing out in the world? Tell us in the comments below!