Food City and the Eastman Foundation presented checks totaling $2,131,703.37 to the United Ways of Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee to aid area flood victims, making this the largest fund-raising campaign in the supermarket retailer’s history.
“Our friends and neighbors across Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee have suffered catastrophic losses from the flooding that devastated our community several weeks ago. We want to ensure they receive the resources and support they need,” said Steven C. Smith, Food City president and chief executive officer.
“We would like to thank our loyal customers, dedicated team of associates, vendor partners, and other companies and individuals from across our region and beyond for their generosity and the tremendous outpouring of support they have shown for our friends and neighbors in need. We are so blessed to be a part of such a caring and compassionate community,” said Smith.
In the wake of the devastation caused by the recent flooding, Food City teamed up with the Eastman Foundation, the United Ways of Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee, and area broadcasting services to host a fundraising campaign to benefit flood relief efforts spanning from Cocke County, Tennessee, to Grayson County, Virginia, and all affected localities in between.
Food City and the Eastman Foundation pledged $100,000 each, for a total of $200,000 to kick off the fundraising drive. The 12-day in-store initiative raised $833,023.37. Food City also received $1,098,680.00 in contributions from their vendor partners and individuals across the Tri-Cities region and beyond, including a $1 million dollar donation from Phoenix Medical Products Inc. of Mountain City, Tennessee, a $50,000 contribution from the NASCAR Foundation, and a $10,000 gift from the Jack & Judy Smith Foundation.
The campaign ran from October 1-12 in all Food City locations. Customers wishing to participate were given the opportunity to make a monetary donation at the checkout.
100% of the funds collected will benefit the United Ways of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia disaster relief funds.
Headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia, K-VA-T Food Stores (Food City’s parent company) operates 158 retail outlets throughout southeast Kentucky, southwest Virginia, east Tennessee, north Georgia, and Alabama.
