BJ’s Wholesale Club announces $100,000 grant to the Lowcountry Food Bank

BJ’s Wholesale Club announced a $100,000 donation from the BJ’s Charitable Foundation to the Lowcountry Food Bank, a Feeding America® member food bank. The donation will help the Lowcountry Food Bank secure, store and distribute fresh, healthy food for the 10 coastal counties of South Carolina.

The Lowcountry Food Bank is one of nine Feeding America member food banks to benefit from BJ’s Charitable Foundation’s $1 million donation to Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization. BJ’s $1 million donation to Feeding America is the foundation’s largest single donation to any organization to date.

“BJ’s is bringing a fresh approach to nourishing communities and helping families thrive, and we’re proud to support the Lowcountry Food Bank,” said Kirk Saville, executive director of the BJ’s Charitable Foundation. “No one should have to worry about where to get their next meal, and we know that food banks face challenges in storing and distributing perishable foods. Our strategic partnership with Feeding America is focused on building capacity for fresh food at local food banks so we can work together to put an end to hunger in our communities.”

BJ’s $100,000 grant will support the Lowcountry Food Bank’s purchase of a 24-foot insulated, refrigerated truck to expand its new Fresh Xpress program and increase its distribution capacity for bulk quantities of fresh, nutritious produce. The Fresh Xpress program assists local agencies in distributing produce utilizing a farmer’s market-style distribution model, empowering families with the opportunity to choose the types of produce and quantity that meets their needs, instead of receiving a pre-packaged box.

“At the Lowcountry Food Bank, we strive to create a more food secure future for our neighbors in need, and we’re grateful to have BJ’s support in leading the fight against hunger in our community,” said Pat Walker, President and CEO of the Lowcountry Food Bank. “Each year, we distribute more than six million pounds of fresh produce to families, children and seniors in the Lowcountry. With BJ’s generous donation, we will be able to increase that number to distribute fresh, nutritious and healthy food to a wider and more diverse audience.”

Since 2009, BJ’s has provided ongoing support to Feeding America through the BJ’s Charitable Foundation and BJ’s Feeding Communities® program, helping local food banks successfully expand their programs to reach wider and more diverse audiences.

In addition to capacity building grants from the BJ’s Charitable Foundation, BJ’s has secured over 50 million pounds of donated food, including fresh produce, frozen meats and fish, baked goods and dairy items through the BJ’s Feeding Communities® program.

To learn more about the BJ’s Charitable Foundation and its Feeding Communities Program, visit bjs.com/charity.

To learn more about the Lowcountry Food Bank, visit lowcountryfoodbank.org.