Meijer partners with Custer food pantry.

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CUSTER — Caritas Food Pantry is again partnering with Meijer Ludington to provide much-needed hunger relief to local families through the Grand Rapids-based retailer’s customer-driven food pantry donation program, “Simply Give”.

“This new partnership between Caritas and Meijer will prove essential in helping to provide meals as well as fresh produce to our clients as demand continues to increase as the year progresses,” said Kelly Glover, Caritas Food Pantry manager.”

Each Meijer Simply Give campaign replenishes the shelves of more than 200 food pantries in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Wisconsin. The program encourages customers to purchase $10 Simply Give donation cards, which are then converted into Meijer food-only gift cards and given to a local food pantry in the store’s community.

Caritas Food Pantry will benefit from donation cards purchased at Ludington Meijer store now through Sept. 24.

“We encourage community members to help us fulfill our mission of helping feed the hungry in both Mason and Manistee Counties and the surrounding area by purchasing a Meijer Simply Give food donation card during their next shopping trip,” said Glover.

For the fifth consecutive year, Meijer will contribute at least $1 million to the 2016 Simply Give program.

The Simply Give program runs three times a year: spring, fall and holiday. Since the program began in November 2008, more than $15.5 million has been generated for food pantries in the Midwest to distribute to our hungry neighbors.

“Today’s food pantries are in a desperate struggle to keep up with the flood of requests they receive daily,” said Janet Emerson, executive vice president of retail operations for Meijer. “The Simply Give program is a way for Meijer customers to partner with Meijer and support the food banks and pantries that provide food to the hungry families in the communities we serve. We certainly couldn’t do it without the support and commitment of our generous customers and team members, who stand beside us in this effort.”

About your food pantry: Caritas Food Pantry serves all clients who come through its doors in need of emergency food assistance or below poverty level.  In 2015 it provided food to approximately 125 families each and every month.

About Meijer Philanthropy: Meijer is a family-owned retailer based in Grand Rapids with a fundamental philosophy aimed at strengthening the communities it serves. Meijer proudly donates more than 6 percent of its net profit each year to charities throughout the Midwest. With hunger as a corporate philanthropic focus, Meijer partners with hundreds of food banks and pantries through its Simply Give and food rescue programs. Meijer also supports education, disaster relief, and health and wellness initiatives. For additional information on Meijer philanthropy, please visit www.meijercommunity.com. Follow Meijer on Twitter @twitter.com/Meijer and @twitter.com/MeijerPR or become a fan at www.facebook.com/meijer.