WASHINGTON, DC – Bread for the City (BFC), a direct service nonprofit in the nation’s capital, has a new member of its prominent Corporate Partnerships Program: Wegmans. The grocery store chain, new to D.C. and celebrating the opening of its first D.C. location in Tenleytown, will join area businesses in supporting BFC’s work in the community as a Corporate Partner.

Bread for the City has served D.C. residents living on a low income for nearly half a century. It provides food, clothing, social services, legal advice and representation, advocacy, and medical care through its two community centers. Its brand-new Michelle Obama Southeast Center of Bread for the City opened during the height of the pandemic and recently launched a new Medical Clinic. As a Corporate Partner, Wegmans will support BFC’s work in each direct service area while providing an opportunity for area shoppers to contribute direct donations this fall through their annual Check Out Hunger campaign. With Wegmans’ commitment to improving its community’s physical, emotional, and mental health with resources and wholesome food, it’s a natural partnership with Bread for the City’s holistic mission.

“Through our support of community organizations large and small, we share a goal of cultivating healthy, thriving communities. Bread for the City’s services is vital for many residents of Washington, D.C. As we prepare to open our first store in the District, we’re proud to partner with this wonderful organization to support the local community,” said Chris Holland, Wegmans Virginia division community relations coordinator and service manager at Wisconsin Ave.

Wegmans Wisconsin Ave. near Tenleytown opens on July 13th. The 84,000 square-foot store is the company’s first location in Washington, D.C., and 108th store overall. It will employ 450 people, with the vast majority hired locally. The store features Wegmans’ full range of departments, including a Market Café, Buzz coffee shop, and the family-friendly, casual restaurant The Burger Bar, plus all the grocery, dairy, frozen, and household items usually found in a supermarket.

Wegmans is devoted to being a good neighbor in every community it serves. In the last year, the store has committed more than $350,000 locally through donations and event sponsorships, including a recent contribution of $10,000 to support Bread for the City.

This support is crucial as the community experiences increased burdens due to the pandemic and ensuing economic fallout.

“With food insecurity at an all-time high in the District, working with area businesses in the food industry is paramount to solving hunger through a collaborative approach,” said George Jones, CEO of Bread for the City. “It takes all of us – nonprofits, government, businesses, and individuals – to tackle these complex issues. We’re excited to receive this support from Wegmans and happy to welcome them to the fight against poverty here in D.C.”

For 48 years, Bread for the City has served as a hub for making a difference within the community. When the economy falters, the communities that BFC serves are often left behind. And in D.C., those impacted are disproportionately Black and brown communities. Knowing that Wegmans and the corporate community in D.C. are willing to pitch in to make a difference allows organizations like Bread for the City the flexibility to approach problems with creative solutions.

“As soon as it became clear that grocery delivery, as opposed to in-person pick-up, would be the best option for our food pantry clients, we pivoted to a door-to-door delivery model,” explained Bread for the City’s Food and Clothing Director, Trazy Collins. “Champions in the food and delivery industries here in D.C. stepped in to provide the support that enabled BFC to develop a delivery model that could work to meet the need we saw across the City. We were dealing with an increase we could not take on alone.”

Through this delivery model, Bread for the City went from handing out about 250 bags of groceries daily between its two food pantries (in the N.W. neighborhood of Shaw and the S.E. neighborhood of Woodlawn) to delivering upwards of 1,800 bags daily. We’re grateful for the ability to maintain our production to meet the demand, thanks to partners like Wegmans and their generous donation of $10,000.

Want to know how you can expand your service to your community? Check out Bread for the City’s Corporate Partnerships Program!