The Save Mart Companies and its nonprofit arm, the CARES Foundation, recently announced the 2025 Feeding Forward grant winners. Since its launch in 2000, the CARES Foundation has focused on building healthier communities through access to fresh food and youth programs. The Feeding Forward grant aims to strengthen the food safety net in California and Western Nevada.
One of the recipients this year is the Second Harvest of the Greater Valley, which serves places like Oakdale and Riverbank. This initiative is vital because retail recovery food helps fuel food banks across California. The first year of the Feeding Forward program was all about improving the infrastructure of these organizations. This year, they awarded a total of $201,000 to several groups, including:
- Central California Food Bank: $100,000
- Second Harvest of the Greater Valley: $50,000
- True North Housing Alliance: $35,000
- Yuba-Sutter Food Bank: $16,000
In 2023, over 200,000 tons of unsold food were redirected to communities in California. This effort not only fights hunger but also helps combat climate change. However, food banks are grappling with compliance challenges related to regulations, which adds to their workload. The CARES Foundation received more than 68 grant proposals this year, totaling over $5.2 million in requests.
Joan Dobias-Davis, chair of the CARES Foundation, expressed the foundation’s commitment to addressing these community needs but also acknowledged the limitations in funding. “We couldn’t support every deserving program, but we believe this investment will make a difference,” she said.
In addition, the foundation regularly provides funding to various organizations working to eliminate hunger in Northern California and Northern Nevada. Stacia Hill Levenfeld, CEO of the California Association of Food Banks, noted that food banks support over six million people monthly. She emphasized that partners like The Save Mart Companies are crucial for this ongoing support.
A significant piece of the CARES Foundation’s mission is to empower both children and adults by offering resources and education related to healthy living. Their board meets quarterly to award grants to nonprofit organizations in the areas where Save Mart operates. With 194 Save Mart, Lucky, and FoodMaxx stores, the company plays a major role in California’s food landscape.
As the demand for food bank services continues to rise, community partnerships and innovative funding strategies like the Feeding Forward grant are essential to ensuring everyone has access to nutritious meals.
For more details on food insecurity issues and resources, visit the California Association of Food Banks.
