As Atlanta celebrates the Big Game, Kroger is teaming up with Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms to kick-off the “More than Mac” Campaign Against Hunger. Starting this weekend and continuing through Feb. 16, metro-Atlanta Kroger customers can round-up their purchases to the nearest dollar or make a cash donation when they shop at one of the 28 participating stores to help end hunger. Proceeds will benefit the Atlanta Community Food Bank (ACFB.)

This simple, yet effective initiative, embraces the ideas that small change can add up to make a very big difference. If a shopper spends $99.07 on groceries, Kroger can round up the bill to $100 – so 93 cents goes toward the hunger relief effort in Atlanta.”

“In Atlanta alone, more than 800,000 residents face food insecurity. The “More than Mac” round-up is a testament to Kroger’s commitment to our Zero Hunger | Zero Waste initiative – and our vision to end hunger in the places we call home by 2025,” says Felix Turner, corporate affairs manager for Kroger’s Atlanta Division. “We are pleased to partner with Mayor Bottoms and metro-Atlanta communities on this critical endeavor.”

Zero Hunger | Zero Waste, which recently celebrated its first anniversary, is designed to address a fundamental absurdity in the nation’s food system: 40 percent of the food produced in the U.S. is thrown away, yet one in eight Americans struggles with hunger.

Kroger’s Atlanta Division has been a long-time supporter of the ACFB, most recently raising more than $616,000 through its Can Hunger campaign.

The company also allocated $15 million in New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) to the ACFB. Kroger’s allocation is supporting the construction of the 345,000-square-foot food warehouse and distribution center, which will allow ACFB to place greater emphasis on fresh food rather than canned or dry goods.

Since February 2018, Kroger’s Atlanta Division has donated more than 1.5 million pounds of food to ACFB through its food rescue program, allowing more balanced food donations. This is equivalent to more than 1.2 million meals – and a 37% increase over last year’s donations.

“Through the generosity of individuals and businesses who all share the same vision, Kroger can continue partnering with ACFB and other local food banks to help feed families in need across the country and, hopefully, stop wasting the more than 40 percent of U.S.-produced food that goes unconsumed each year,” Turner says.