The pandemic has brought unprecedented change to all our communities. We know that schools at all levels are maintaining high education standards in an environment that neither teachers nor students have ever experienced. The work done by educators during this time has been innovative and inspirational.

The supermarket industry has experienced its own unique challenges as a result of COVID-19. Cashiers, deli clerks and others became critical frontline resources in a moment’s notice. At Giant Eagle, we were immediately reminded that our responsibility – and that of all food retailers - above all else is to feed our communities.

This renewed reality has forced us to make important decisions regarding how we best support our communities going forward, and particularly how we help feed so many K-12 students who face hunger in increasingly virtual learning environments. We have been honored to host the Apples for the Students program for more than 30 years, but believe our responsibility calls us to take a new direction. We have made the difficult decision to discontinue the Apples for the Students program so that we may redirect these resources to support feeding students across our communities.

What does this mean for schools?

The discontinuance of the Apples for the Students program does not eliminate all means for your school to generate funds by partnering with Giant Eagle. Many K-12 schools today take advantage of Giant Eagle’s bulk gift card program, which provides purchase discounts of up to five percent that can result in hundreds of dollars being generated for your school.

What does this mean for Giant Eagle’s support of K-12 students in our communities?

We recognize the important connection between a student’s ability to receive nourishment and their attentiveness to their schoolwork. Recognizing the amazing impact that the pandemic has had on the ability of families facing hunger to feed their school-age children, Giant Eagle is recommitting its Apples for the Students funding to provide immediate support to efforts to keep students fed.

On behalf of our entire Giant Eagle family, we thank you for allowing Giant Eagle to play our small part in supporting your amazing students through the Apples for the Students program. We are committed to evolving the way we support the families in all our communities, including those our schools serve.