Fry’s Food Stores donated $50,000 to the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation to address the urgent food needs of students struggling during the current COVID-19 pandemic as part of Kroger’s Zero Hunger | Zero Waste social impact plan to end hunger in communities and eliminate waste across the company by 2025.

Glendale Community College is located at 6000 W. Olive Ave.

“These funds will provide students access to fresh, nutritious food, allowing them to focus on their education,” Fry’s Food Stores president Monica Garnes stated in a news release. “Fry’s is committed to serving our communities and is honored to partner with the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation to help ensure no student goes hungry.”

The donation was awarded through the Kroger Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity founded in 2018 to address a fundamental absurdity in our food system: 40 percent of the food produced is thrown away while 1 in 8 Americans struggle with hunger.

Since closing college campuses in March, the Maricopa County Community Colleges District has transitioned to drive-thru food pantries at all 10 campuses. The Fry’s donation will help fund an additional 20,000 meals through these drive-thru pantry sites as well as support the distribution of e-grocery store gift cards to students struggling with food insecurity during this challenging time.

“Closing our campus has created a hardship for thousands of Maricopa Community College students, now without access to campus food pantries. Many of these students face an extreme need due to lost wages from reduced hours or job loss,” Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation interim president and CEO Brian Spicker stated. “This grant will immediately and directly benefit struggling students to help keep food on the table so they can focus on their education.”