The Meijer Simply Give campaign held this fall generated more than $3 million for food pantries throughout the Midwest, making it the most successful campaign in the program's history.

Meijer customers donated more than $809,000 during the fall Simply Give campaign that began in late July during the second annual Meijer LPGA Classic presented by Kraft. That commitment to supporting hungry families, combined with a donation from Meijer, raised the fall campaign total to more than $3 million, making it the most successful campaign since Simply Give began in November 2008.

"We cannot thank our customers, team members and food pantry partners enough for continuing to rise to the challenge and help us feed hungry families in the communities we serve," says, Co-Chairman, Hank Meijer. "It's inspiring to see this level of engagement."

The Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer began its Simply Give program as a way to help local food pantries throughout the Midwest achieve their mission of feeding hungry families.

Thanks to the fall campaign that ended in mid-September, Simply Give has generated more than $18.6 million for those partners to restock their shelves and feed hungry families. That total includes an estimated $750,000 donation from the Meijer LPGA Classic to the Simply Give program. 

But more importantly, those donations stay local, says Janet Emerson, executive vice president of retail operations for Meijer.

"We know how important it is to our customers that their generous donations remain local," Emerson says. "That's why each of our stores partner with a food pantry in their community during the Simply Givecampaigns."

During each Simply Give program, which runs three times a year, customers are encouraged to purchase a $10 Simply Give donation card upon checkout. Once purchased, the donation is converted into a Meijer Food-Only Gift Card and donated directly to the local food pantry selected by the store.  

"Hunger is a problem that continues to increase in all of our communities," says Hank Meijer. "The Simply Give program gives everyone a chance to work toward ensuring no one has to live without food."

To view a video the further explains the Simply Give program, and other Meijer hunger relief efforts, please visit http://newsroom.meijer.com/meijer-simply-give-video.