Kohl’s Department Stores (NYSE: KSS) is renewing its partnership with Hunger Task Force with $1.5 million over three years for the Kohl’s Serving Up Supper for Kids program. Starting in June, the program will provide needed meals for kids during the summer when other school meal programs are not available. The $1.5 million donation to Hunger Task Force comes from the Kohl’s Caresâ cause merchandise program, which sells special merchandise, including plush toys and books, and donates 100 percent of the net profit to benefit children’s health and education initiatives nationwide.
“The Kohl’s Serving Up Supper for Kids program is a great example of Kohl’s continued commitment to supporting children’s health and education while filling a real need in our hometown community,” said Julie Gardner, Kohl’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer. “We’re pleased to continue and expand our partnership with Hunger Task Force and proud to help Milwaukee area kids get the nutrition they need to grow and thrive during the summer months.”
Hunger Task Force, an antihunger organization with more than 35 years of experience fighting hunger in Milwaukee, developed this program in conjunction with Kohl’s to provide needed daily meals during the summer months to children at 25 locations in the Milwaukee area. These meals, for children 13 years and older, cannot be provided under current federal programs, often leaving children hungry when school is out. Kohl’s began a meal program with Hunger Task Force in 2009 and this $1.5 million donation is creating a new program filling a need for summer meals.
“Kohl’s is a great partner. They wanted to take on one of the biggest hunger challenges in the city, which is making sure children are fed over the summer,” said Sherrie Tussler, executive director of Hunger Task Force. “Providing supper during summer months when there are no other options for these children is especially significant. This is what makes Kohl’s unique, their understanding that all youth in our city need three meals a day.”
Specific locations taking part in the Kohl’s Serving Up Supper for Kids program will be announced later this year and will include sites at: Milwaukee Public Schools, West Allis/West Milwaukee School District; the Boys and Girls Club; City and County Parks. These locations will service the neediest families in the Milwaukee area to ensure that kids will have access to healthy food at breakfast, lunch and now dinner all summer long.
In addition to this $1.5 million donation and the initial donation of $225,000 in 2009 for the Kohl’s Serving Up Supper for Kids program, Kohl’s has also supported Hunger Task Force by giving more than $75,000 to food drives since 2002 and donating fresh produce from the Kohl’s corporate gardens, including green peppers, beans, cabbage, squash, salad greens, pumpkins and tomatoes.
Since 2000, Kohl’s and the Kohl’s Cares program have combined to give approximately $36 million to support charitable initiatives in the metro-Milwaukee area, including the $1.5 million to Hunger Task Force and the following recent contributions:
- $2.7 million over three years to the Milwaukee Art Museum
- $1 million over four years to the Zoological Society of Milwaukee County
- $2 million donation over three years to Discovery World
- $7 million donation over three years to the Southeast Wisconsin affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the American Cancer Society’s Midwest Division
- $3 million donation over three years to Junior Achievement of Wisconsin
- $1 million donation over three years to Penfield Children’s Center
For more information about Kohl’s philanthropic and community initiatives, visit www.Kohls.com/Cares. For more information on the Kohl’s Serving Up Supper for Kids program, visit www.hungertaskforce.org.
