Hy-Vee will roll out a series of community support efforts next week as food banks brace for a surge in need. From Nov. 3-7, all Hy-Vee locations with hot food service will offer free evening meals for children 12 and under from 4-7 p.m., with adult portions available for $3 for dine-in or carryout. Daily menus include baked potatoes with pulled pork, spaghetti with salad, chicken and noodles, chili with a cinnamon roll, and sesame or orange chicken bowls; stores without HyChi will serve chicken tenders with sides.
Shoppers can also support local food pantries by purchasing $5 or $10 donation bundles stocked with high-need staples like canned vegetables, pasta sauce, cereal and canned protein. Hy-Vee will deliver purchased bags to area food pantries daily. The grocer will additionally post recipes on social media featuring meals that cost $3 or less per serving.
The company says the effort builds on more than $70 million in food donations over the past year, along with a recent $100,000 gift to Feeding America partner food banks and $25,000 to a DoorDash program waiving delivery fees for SNAP customers. “We are doing everything we can to make sure no one goes hungry during these uncertain times,” said Anna Stoermer, Hy-Vee’s executive vice president and chief merchandising and retail officer.
