Ralphs Invites Customers to Support Our Troops

Honoring Our Heroes Campaign Will Raise Funds To Assist Military Programs through the USO

News provided by

May 22, 2014, 05:56 ET

LOS ANGELES, May 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Ralphs invites customers to join in supporting the men and women of the armed forces and their families during its annual Honoring Our Heroes campaign in partnership with the USO.

Ralphs and other Kroger-family stores, together with customers, employees and vendors, will provide $2.3 million to support the USO's broad range of programs that assist service members and their families. Since 2010, The Kroger Co., of which Ralphs is a division, has provided more than $8.5 million to support the USO – the largest cumulative gift to the USO in the organization's history.

"The USO supports our military and their families in so many ways—from being right there for the wounded, injured and ill, to helping those who are on deployment record a bed time story for their children," said Kendra Doyel, Ralphs' senior manager of corporate affairs. "The USO connects with our service men and women every step of the way, and Ralphs is proud to honor our troops and veterans by supporting them."

Honoring Our Heroes Sales Event
Through July 8, store-wide promotions will feature hundreds of popular products at special sale prices. Customers can support brands that make Ralphs and Kroger's donation possible by purchasing participating items identified by customized shelf tags.

All of the funds raised will support the broad range of programs and services the USO provides to service members, their families, wounded troops, and our veterans. A private, nonprofit organization, the USO provides programs, treatment, comfort and much more to enhance the quality of life for America's military personnel and their families wherever they serve.

Honoring Ralphs' Heroes
Ralphs is also recognizing company employees and their families who are active and former military members. Associates like Yvette Villa who works at the Ralphs store at 5035 Pacific Coast Highway in Torrance while pursuing her dream of being an Army Specialist.

Customers can read more stories like Yvette's, and learn how to volunteer with the USO or make a donation, by visiting www.honoringourheroes.com.

This annual event is just one element of Kroger and Ralphs' year-round commitment to supporting members of the military and their families.

Kroger and Ralphs have hired more than 22,456 veterans since 2009, and helped the "100,000 Jobs Mission" surpass its original goal to hire 100,000 transitioning service members and military veterans by 2020 in January 2014, seven years early.

Customers and associates of Ralphs will also be able to show their support for our service men and women from May 25 to August 16 by donating spare change in specially-marked coin boxes at check stands.

About Ralphs
Ralphs Grocery Company was founded in 1873 and currently operates 228 supermarkets from its headquarters in Los Angeles. Last year, Ralphs contributed more than $6 million to support education, hunger relief, women's health and local nonprofit organizations in the communities served by the company's stores. Ralphs is a subsidiary of The Kroger Co., (NYSE:KR), one of the nation's largest food retailers, based in Cincinnati, Ohio. For more about Ralphs, please visit our web site at www.ralphs.com.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130715/LA47427LOGO

SOURCE Ralphs Grocery Company