September is Hunger Action Month, and a great time for all of us to reflect on what we’re doing to address hunger needs and disparities in our communities. As the third-largest cereal company in the United States, we believe it’s our responsibility to help make the world a better place, and we do this through our commitment to doing business the right way and investing in efforts to create positive change for people and our communities.
One main focus of our corporate responsibility efforts is our goal to strengthen communities, which we do by supporting hunger relief efforts. Read on to learn more about the four main ways we fight hunger throughout North America, including product donations, retailer partnerships, campaigns, and support for local food banks.
Donating meals
In 2020, Post Consumer Brands donated nearly $7 million worth of breakfast cereal and snack products to community organizations and food banks. This represents more than 130 million bowls of cereal, all going to feed families in need across North America. The majority of these donations were distributed through Feeding America‘s network of food banks.
Partnering with retailers
To help fight the 70% decline in food donations as a result of the pandemic, we once again joined forces with Walmart and Feeding America this spring for the Fight Hunger, Spark Change campaign, which we’ve proudly supported since 2018. For select cereals purchased at Walmart, from mid-April to May Post Consumer Brands donated the equivalent of one meal to Feeding America, with donations totaling up to $150,000 each year. All those meals add up to a big impact, helping feed families during this challenging time.
Fighting summer hunger
We know summer is a difficult time for children and families across North America. Right now, parents are facing many challenges while they try to get back on their feet — dealing with overdue rent and other debts, rising energy costs, and continued uncertainties around employment. Because of this, many may face food insecurity. In response, we partnered with Feed the Children to fight hunger insecurity this past summer and matched people’s donations to Feed the Children up to $25,000, which resulted in a total impact of $50,000.
Supporting local food banks
Local nonprofits and food banks know their communities best, which is why we’re committed to supporting local hunger relief organizations in the areas where we live and work. In Minnesota, where our corporate headquarters is located, we supported Second Harvest Heartland, the state’s largest food bank, with $50,000 in cash donations in 2020. We also directly supported more than 15 local food banks where our manufacturing plants, distribution centers, and other offices are located, and indirectly supported hundreds of food banks through product donations and the Feeding America network.
Read more about our giving and responsibility efforts.