For millions of Americans, putting food on the table is a constant struggle. More than 47 million people in the United States don’t have enough to eat and don’t know where they’ll find their next meal, according to the USDA. The consequences of going hungry are far-reaching: Those experiencing hunger are more likely to develop chronic health issues and mental illness, including the 14 million children facing food insecurity in the U.S., whose lack of access to healthy food has a major impact on their physical and mental development, their success in school and their future.

But these Americans don’t struggle alone. Across the country, a legion of organizations work tirelessly to provide free food to those who need it — including the Safeway Foundation’s “Nourishing Neighbors” program, which contributes millions of dollars a year to the fight against hunger in America. In 2023, Nourishing Neighbors helped provide more than 40 million meals to Americans facing food insecurity, donated gift cards to 250,000 families so they could purchase food for the holidays, and pledged $9 million in grants targeted at addressing the root causes of hunger.

On a recent afternoon, leaders from three organizations that have received grants from Safeway came together to share a meal. As they prepped, cooked and ate together, they had an opportunity to discuss the work they do each day, talking about their challenges, goals and successes in a kitchen filled with people who all know how important food really is — and how meaningful it can be to provide it to those in need.

They started their meal with a hearty green salad made by Melanie Minzes, the Deputy Chief Development Officer at Capital Area Food Bank. They followed with chicken breasts pan-seared by James B. Smith, the Vice President of Development at Easterseals, and a side of sauteed vegetables made by Lisa Simms Booth, the Executive Director of the Smith Center for Healing and the Arts.

Dessert came courtesy of Dana Ward, Safeway’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs, who spoke about her passion for Safeway’s “Feast of Sharing.” On the day before Thanksgiving each year, Ward explained, Safeway employees, partners and volunteers host over a thousand of DC’s most vulnerable residents at a day-long charity event — cooking and serving them a Thanksgiving dinner, and sending them home with coats, personal care items and food.

As Ward sliced up her pie, she reflected on the shared goal that brought everyone together around the table: providing healthy, cost-free food to the folks who need it most. It’s a mission, she said, that Safeway is committed to continuing to support. “What I love about bringing everybody together here today is that everyone does something a little bit different in their space, but everybody has some sort of food and nutrition component,” Ward said. “What better way to bring everybody together than to be around food?”