Food City donates to the Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia COVID-19 Relief Fund

Published 10:26 am Friday, April 24, 2020

The Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia COVID-19 Relief Fund announced today that they are the recipient of a generous $50,000 Food City contribution for the regional COVID-19 Relief Fund.

A $25,000 donation will support citizens and communities in Southwest Virginia, and the remaining $25,000 will support the six areas served by the participating Northeast Tennessee United Way organizations.

Both immediate and long-term, these efforts will focus response efforts on vulnerable populations, including children, families, and the ALICE population in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. ALICE, an acronym coined by United Way that stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed represents men, women, and families who work hard and earn more than the official Federal Poverty Level, but less than the basic cost of living.

Steve Smith, President and CEO of Food City stated, “We are always proud to partner with our local United Ways in any effort that enhances the stability and success of our friends and neighbors. We are aware of the detrimental economic toll that this global pandemic is placing on our community, and we are honored to be one piece of a much bigger solution.”

Travis Staton, President and CEO of United Way of Southwest Virginia, stated, “We are so grateful for our ongoing partnership with Food City and their generous gift to the citizens in both the Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia communities. The question is not whether we will get through these strange times, because we will. The COVID-19 pandemic has and will continue to affect our friends and neighbors in all localities, both economically and financially, but through kind acts of generosity demonstrated by our partners like Food City, we will overcome these difficult times and adversities together.”