Raley’s will reach more than 65,000 community members with holiday meat donation

Raley’s Family of Fine Stores donated more than 12,500 turkeys, chickens and hams – which will serve 65,000 individuals throughout Northern California and Nevada.

Each of the 114 Raley’s, Bel Air and Nob Hill store locations within the chain has made a $1,000 donation of meat to benefit local food banks- totaling more than 81,000 pounds of nutritious protein.

The donation was prepared at the Raley’s Distribution Center in Natomas for delivery to local stores for food bank pick-up- the donations stay in the local community of each individual store.

“Raley’s donation of holiday meats is especially impactful this year,” said Blake Young, President/CEO of Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services. “2015 marks the first year Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services is acting as the food bank for Sacramento County and we are currently serving 150,000 men, women and children per month through the support of 210 local partner agencies. This meat donation from Raley’s will mean a happier holiday season for so many families in need.”

Hunger is a growing problem in the United States and it knows no boundaries. It is estimated that 1 in 5 kids in the United States is without consistent access to adequate food. A recent report revealed California’s child poverty rate – 27% – is the worst in the nation.

Quality, wholesome proteins can often be cost prohibitive to individuals suffering with food insecurity.  “Access to healthy food is important for all families, and this meat donation provides protein and hard to get nutrients, like iron and zinc, to those who need it” Said Emily Satrazemis, Raley’s Corporate Dietician. “By providing a wholesome and high quality protein to these families, we can add balance and nutrition to their dinner table.”

For more than a decade, Raley’s has partnered with local food banks to provide this annual meat donation. At a time when food banks are at their greatest need for donations, Raley’s absorbs all administrative fees to ensure that 100% of donations go directly to local food banks. Raley’s is proudly partnered with 74 food banks throughout Northern California and Nevada. Each partnering agency distributes the meat donation to the hungry in that neighborhood, so contributions remain in the community of each store location where the donation was made.