CHICAGO — The Chicago Red Stars, Meijer and the Evergreen Park Village Food Pantry are partnering to host a food giveaway event as part of the Meijer Simply Give program Friday, August 13.
Long-time Red Stars players Sarah Gorden, Vanessa DiBernardo, and Alyssa Mautz along with front office associates will come together with Meijer team members and volunteers in Evergreen Park to package food items for families in need, including items donated by The Black Bread Company and GoGo squeeZ. The players will then deliver the packages, via contactless delivery, to families visiting the food pantry that day.
“The Chicago Red Stars are always thrilled when we get the opportunity to give back to Chicagoland communities,” said Michelle Henstock, Director of Sponsorship, Themes and Promotions for the Chicago Red Stars. “We’re proud to partner with Meijer for this event and hope to continue to partner with them to address food insecurity in the Chicagoland area.”
Since 2008 Meijer’s Simply Give program has helped local food pantries keep their shelves stocked. The program allows food pantries to have the flexibility to choose what produce and products are needed for their community.
“We support The Chicago Red Stars not just because of their prowess on the field, but also because they share our commitment to serving our neighbors,” said Cathy Cooper, Senior Director of Community Partnerships and Giving at Meijer. “The team brings so much to the community as players and role models. We’re happy to partner with them to help feed local families in need.”
This will be the first of three initiative events the Red Stars host with Meijer this year. Details for the following two events will be announced at a later date.
About the Chicago Red Stars
Established in 2007, the Red Stars were a founding member of the former Women’s Professional Soccer and would later become one of the original eight teams to form the National Women’s Soccer League in 2013. The Red Stars have made the playoffs in six consecutive years from 2015-2020, clinching the team’s first appearance in the NWSL Championship in the 2019 season as well as appearing in the NWSL’s Challenge Cup Final in 2020.
About Meijer
Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates more than 257 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin. A privately-owned and family-operated company since 1934, Meijer pioneered the “one-stop shopping” concept and has evolved through the years to include expanded fresh produce and meat departments, as well as pharmacies, comprehensive apparel departments, pet departments, garden centers, toys and electronics. For additional information on Meijer, please visit www.meijer.com. Follow Meijer on Twitter at twitter.com/Meijer and twitter.com/MeijerPR or become a fan at www.facebook.com/meijer.