Verizon Wireless Retailer to Support Four Southern California Food Banks, 135 More Throughout the Country Through In-Store Hand Sanitizer Sales

Victra, the largest exclusive authorized retailer for Verizon Wireless products and services, is partnering with non-profit Feeding America, the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States, to launch a donation initiative benefitting 137 local food banks, including the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, Feeding America Riverside and Feeding San Diego in Southern California.

Throughout August and September, Victra’s 82 Southern California stores are selling hand sanitizer, with five dollars from every bottle sold benefitting these two local food banks. Each hand sanitizer bottle sold at Victra stores provides the equivalent of 50 meals from Feeding America, distributed to the local community through Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, Feeding America Riverside and Feeding San Diego.

In total, Victra has pledged to match donations from Store Support Center team members in Raleigh, which combined with hand sanitizer sales, will equate to a $150,000 donation to Feeding America to directly impact food insecurity in communities across the country, which will translate to 30,000 meals.

Due to the impacts of COVID-19, the demand for food resources is higher than ever, with more than 36 million Americans unemployed and more than 22 million children without typical free or reduced-price lunches from school. The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina serves about one-third of the state’s food needs – currently, projected numbers of food-insecure people within 34 counties is more than 756,000, with 253,000 of those being children. In addition, the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle in Raleigh has supplied more than 45,514 meals during the COVID-19 pandemic alone.

“We are incredibly proud to partner with Feeding America to fight hunger and give back to those in need in our communities,” said Rich Balot, CEO of Victra. “Aligning with this national non-profit allows us to expand this initiative’s reach, while ensuring our efforts are still directly impacting the people and areas we serve, through the local food banks. Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, Feeding America Riverside and Feeding San Diego provide needed resources to so many in Southern California, and we encourage locals to support these organizations through hand sanitizer purchases or in any other way they can.”

Vice President of Corporate Partnerships at Feeding America Lauren Bierdron shared, “The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted numerous things, including where so many Americans consistently receive their food. Our organization could not provide the necessary meals to millions across the country without the generous support of companies like Victra. The meals and pantry staples we provide to the local food banks will help Southern Californian children and families have a sense of security and stay healthy during these challenging times.”

For more information about Victra or to find a location, visit www.victra.com.

About Victra

Victra, headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., is a leading retailer of wireless products and services, operating as the largest exclusive authorized agent for Verizon Wireless, the nation’s largest and best performing wireless network. Victra has approximately 1,000 Verizon-branded retail stores across 46 states, offering a comprehensive mix of wireless devices including smartphones, feature phones, tablets, mobile broadband, and wearables; as well as a broad range of accessories and device insurance coverage. For more information, visit www.victra.com.

About Feeding America

Feeding America^® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, we provide meals to more than 40 million people each year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.