Kroger’s Atlanta Division announced the grand opening of the Benjamin E. Mays High School Food Pantry. 

The high school food pantry is another testament to Kroger’s Zero Hunger | Zero Waste social and environmental impact plan to build a more resilient, equitable and sustainable food system that improves access to affordable, fresh food for everyone – for generations to come. 

“The fact that 35% of food produced in our country is thrown away, while 42 million Americans struggle with putting food on the table is not just a statistic. It is a very real challenge – and has an even greater impact on students’ ability to secure an education and a more prosperous future,” said Tammie Young-Ennaemba, manager of corporate affairs for Kroger’s Atlanta Division. “This high school food pantry will help ensure students can focus on their education instead of hunger.” 

Young-Ennaemba thanked Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, Atlanta Councilmember Andrea Boone and Benjamin E. Mays High School Principal Ramon Garner, Ed.S., for their enthusiastic support in helping to establish the food pantry. Students, teachers and school counselors joined in celebrating the official opening and ribbon cutting. 

“More than half a million residents in metro Atlanta are projected to be food insecure and a rise in food prices has caught many of our neighbors off guard so it becomes incumbent on us to look out for each other and help each other as best we can. Thank you to Kroger for stepping up and putting in on this group project,” Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said. 

“This food pantry is very intentional in its efforts to support families facing and experiencing food insecurities. This free resource for students attending Benjamin E. Mays High School also serves as a lesson in market creativity as it will be managed by students,” said Atlanta City Councilmember Andrea Boone. “When students have a food pantry within the safe confines of their school, they can select healthy food options in a community that is familiar to them. It becomes more than just a meal. It lets students know they are embraced by the entire community while receiving food that will help improve their diet and provide more nutrition.” 

Benjamin E. Mays High School Principal Ramon Garner, Ed.S., provided additional background about the school and the significance of the in-school food pantry. “Benjamin E. Mays High Schools is committed to serving our students and preparing them to meet the challenges of the future. It is a Title I school in the Atlanta Public School District, located in the Southwest Cascade area of Atlanta. We are excited about our partnership with Kroger, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, former Mayor Shirley Franklin and City of Atlanta Councilwoman Andrea Boone in providing our students and their families access to healthy foods via our in-school food pantry,” said Principal Garner. “Our partnership with Kroger and the City of Atlanta is an example of when schools and community organizations work together, lives are transformed, and everyone can benefit. Benjamin E. Mays High School pantry will fill in the gaps of food insecurity and in turn, help students become more successful in school.”

“Kroger’s commitment to Zero Hunger | Zero Waste is unwavering,” Young-Ennaemba said. 

To help address food insecurity, Kroger has:

• Given one billion dollars to hunger relief, which includes 500 million pounds of donated surplus food. This is a total of 2.3 billion meals directed to communities.

• Distributed 44.6 million dollars in grants from The Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation, which was established in late 2018 to support food systems change.

• Provided 5.2 million dollars in Innovation Fund grants for social entrepreneurs through the Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation's signature Innovation fund.

To reduce food waste, Kroger stores have:

• Rescued 500 million pounds of food, with 100% of Kroger actively donating food.

• Achieved 79% total waste diversion and 48.9% food waste diversion from landfills.

Additionally, 93% of Kroger’s retail stores are actively recycling food waste through animal feed, composting or anaerobic digestion.