The Kroger Co. Foundation in partnership with Fry’s Food Stores recently awarded a $25,500 grant to the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation to support students struggling with food insecurity.

The grant is part of Kroger’s Zero Hunger | Zero Waste social impact plan to end hunger in communities and eliminate waste across the company by 2025. This is the third grant MCCCF has received as part of this program, bringing Fry’s total contribution to $95,000 in support of fighting hunger on campuses and to support food pantries during campus closures due to the pandemic.

“Fry’s is excited to continue our partnership with the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation to help fight food insecurity on campuses across the Valley,” said Monica Garnes, president of Fry’s Food Stores. “We want students to focus their efforts on studying and achieving great results rather than wondering where their next meal will come from. This donation will help provide additional access to fresh, nutritious food for thousands of local students helping to ensure no student goes hungry.”

The Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation, a public charity founded in 2018, is focused on addressing a fundamental absurdity in our food system: 35% of the food produced in the U.S. is thrown away while 1 in 8 Americans struggle with hunger.

The $25,500 grant will provide more than 500 students with a $50 grocery gift card, or fund 10,200 meals valued at $2.50 each to students in need across all 10 of the Maricopa Community Colleges.

“The pandemic has created a hardship for thousands of Maricopa Community College students,“ said Brian Spicker, Interim President and CEO of the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation. “This grant, which exemplifies our longstanding partnership with Fry’s Food Stores, will immediately and directly benefi t struggling students to help keep food on the table so they can focus on their education.”