The Save Mart Companies and its philanthropic, non-profit organization CARES Foundation, have announced the 2025 Feeding Forward grant awardees. Since its establishment in 2000, the CARES Foundation has been building stronger communities through fresh foods, accessibility, and programs that support youth and help them thrive. The foundation launched the Feeding Forward grant as an annual commitment to strengthening the food safety net in the communities in which it serves throughout California and Western Nevada.
Locally, the Second Harvest of the Greater Valley – which aids the communities of Oakdale, Riverbank and Escalon – was one of the recipients.
Recognizing that retail recovery food items are a vital component of the nourishment provided by food banks across the state, the first year of the Feeding Forward grant was dedicated to addressing the infrastructure needs of the organizations that do this work. The Feeding Forward grant awarded $201,000 to these worthy groups. This year’s awardees are:
Central California Food Bank $100,000
Second Harvest of the Greater Valley $50,000
True North Housing Alliance $35,000
Yuba-Sutter Food Bank $16,000
In 2023, over 200,000 tons of unsold food were recovered in California and redistributed to community members, with the intention of helping communities achieve food security while also fighting climate change. Yet, many California food banks have found themselves facing challenges in dealing with the extra logistical and administrative tasks required to be in compliance with regulatory laws. Demonstrating the continued prevalence of this need in its communities, the CARES Foundation received more than 68 grant proposals, totaling over $5.2 million requests.
“We are humbled by the need in our communities and at our local food banks. Unfortunately, we couldn’t fund all the very worthy programs, but we know that this initial investment into our local food system will have an impact,” explained Joan Dobias-Davis, chairperson of the CARES Foundation and senior vice president and chief human resources officer for The Save Mart Companies. “The Save Mart Companies CARES Foundation will continue working to ensure that our neighbors have access to the food they need to live a healthy life.”
In addition to the $201,000 Feeding Forward grant, the CARES Foundation provides grant funding to food banks and community-based organizations working to end hunger in communities across Northern California and Northern Nevada.
“Food banks across the state are serving more than six million people each month. This would not be possible without partners like The Save Mart Companies,” explained Stacia Hill Levenfeld, chief executive officer of the California Association of Food Banks. “Two decades ago, Save Mart, Lucky and FoodMaxx were among the first grocery stores in California to donate consumable, excess food to their local food banks. How incredibly fitting that they are helping food banks ensure that food makes it to kitchens across the state.”
The CARES Foundation’s philanthropic focus is on supporting programs and organizations that provide resources, education, and access to healthy experiences and choices for children and adults. The Board of Directors meets quarterly to award grant funding to IRS certified 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations within The Save Mart Companies stores’ geographic areas of operation. The Save Mart Companies operates 194 Save Mart, Lucky, and FoodMaxx stores and is California’s largest regional, full-service grocery chain.
