Feb 18, 20144 min read
Twelve years after creating a tempest with On the Origin of Species, Charles Darwin sharpened his theories about what it takes for humankind to thrive by publishing The Descent of Man. This sequel is probably best remembered for developing the idea of “survival of the fittest,” but it may surprise you to learn that the phrase "survival of the fittest" is mentioned only twice in the work, while he refers to the concept of human benevolence no less than 99 times. I point that out as a way of demonstrating the human penchant for focusing on the competitive and difficult to the detriment of the kind and caring.
There is general agreement that bad news blares while good news whispers. Our own industry experience tells us that stories about recalls will always trump tales about recycling. Articles about the ways we contribute to food waste will always outnumber articles about all our efforts to eliminate food waste. And if Darwin is any indication, the ratio has to be better than 99 to 2 in order for stories of caring and goodwill to prevail. In spite of the fact that the odds are against us, FMI continues to tout the good our industry does because the supermarket's reputation as a community cornerstone is a vibrant part of the food retail industry identity. Our good-neighbor light often shines brightest when the community is in crisis and the supermarket becomes a haven of stability in the chaos, resources in the deprivation and hope in the desperation. But, as is often the case, damage reports of the crisis tend to overshadow the stories of neighborliness. However, I believe the community remembers the whispers of good will. In the midst of crisis and in the midst of the technological revolution and the changes it is bringing our world, we must preserve our heritage of neighborhood involvement, community concern and investment in the lives of our shoppers. It is part of who we have been, who we are and who we should continue to aspire to be.
For all these reasons, FMI continues to present the Community Outreach Awards. These recognitions acknowledge a part of our heritage we wish to retain; they highlight the innovative ways our members serve their neighborhoods, and in a sea of troubled water, they offer a harbor of good news.
FMI is proud to announce the six winners of our 2013 Community Outreach Awards.In each of the three categories of programs addressing food insecurity, youth development initiatives and neighborhood health improvement programs, we selected a small chain winner and a large chain winner. Entries were judged based on criteria including participation, community need and degree of impact. Each of the six winners will receive $1,000 from FMI to further the program. Here are our category winners and a brief description of the winning program:
Programs Addressing Food Insecurity
- PCC Natural Market: Shoppers contribute cash donations and reusable bag rebates to fund the purchase of bulk food, which is repackaged at bi-monthly parties at ten partner food pantries. On average, the PCC Food Bank Program annually provides almost 7,200 pounds of food to each of its ten partner food banks.
- Hy-Vee: Created in 2002 as a new way to support a 25 year-old partnership with Iowa’s largest food pantry network, this program highlights the longstanding relationship by having the bakery departments from Hy-Vee's 20 stores participate in a special cookie promotion, designating a penny per cookie sold to support the Des Moines area Food Pantry Network. In 2013, the program raised $5,500.
- Klein’s ShopRite of Maryland: Through a partnership with the City of Baltimore, area nonprofits and the local police department, the event allowed citizens to voluntarily surrender guns and receive a $100 ShopRite gift card in exchange. In four hours, 461 guns were turned over and $46.100 in gift cards distributed.
- First Alternative Co-Op: Shoppers using reusable bags are rewarded by getting to vote which charity will receive a donation from First Alternative Co-op. Over the course of the year, sixteen charities receive a proportional donation. Since the program's inception in 2006, First Alternative has donated almost $80,000 to local organizations
- Safeway: High-schoolers from local underserved communities participate in workshops, activities and food related experiences structured to help inspire students to achieve professional success despite life challenges. Safeway's Career Exploration Youth Day involves 50 staff members donating an cumulative 300 hours of their time touching the lives of 40 high school students from underserved areas.
- Big Y Food Stores, Inc.: This youth program focuses on Y-AIM: (a)chieve academically, (i)spire to attend college, (m)ove toward personal, family and community advancement. Big Y contributes human capital, participates in job placement, provides academic scholarship opportunities and offers financial support of more than $340,000 to help sustain Y-AIM.
Congratulations to the winners and our thanks to all who submitted entries this year. You are keeping a vibrant part of our industry alive and well. Keep up the good work(s).
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