The USO and Kroger have partnered to launch a mobile food program to serve local military communities. The initiative kicked off May 16 with a “Stuff the Truck” event at the Chamblee Tucker Kroger store in Atlanta, Georgia, and ran through May 21, with a meal for family members of forward-deployed service members.
“The USO is proud to uplift the U.S. military community with the help of our partner Kroger,” said Brian Cowart, chief development and marketing officer at the USO, in a statement. “This initiative offers the American people the opportunity to give back to those who have sacrificed for our country and to connect with service members through the joy of food.”
Through this partnership, the USO and Kroger will provide nutritious meals to military members and bring them a taste of home, whether they’re supporting natural disaster relief, serving in remote locations, or at basic training. Custom co-branded trucks and trailers from the mobile USO fleet have collected donations from local shoppers and delivered food to various military bases.
“The USO and Kroger have long worked together to support our military servicemen and women and their families,” said Denise Osterhues, Kroger’s senior director of sustainability & social impact, in a statement. “We’re introducing three new mobile kitchen units in the next two years to take our partnership to the next level. Together, we’ll bring warm meals and a taste of home to servicemembers wherever they are – at military installations, providing food at USO centers, or disaster relief services in our communities. This new Kroger-USO mobile kitchen fleet will be at the center of our shared mission to nourish our neighbors.”
Since 2010, the Kroger family of companies, along with its generous customers and associates, have donated $35.3 million to the USO. Kroger is proud to be the largest USO contributor in the history of the organization.