Rebuilding Together DCA Awarded Safeway Foundation Grant to Support Access to Food for Veterans

Alexandria, VA – Rebuilding Together DC Alexandria (RTDCA), a local non-profit was awarded funds from the Safeway Foundation to assist in providing food access to local veterans throughout the pandemic. During a time of much uncertainty, easy access to food was essential and the funding from the Safeway Foundation helped the non-profit continue to serve the local community.

Rebuilding Together DCA was awarded $43,000 in funding by the Safeway Foundation and provided $15,000 worth of Safeway gift cards to over 200 local veterans and their families. Understanding that veterans in their community have a diverse and wide variety of needs, gift cards enabled the organization to meet those needs. With these gift cards, the veterans were able to purchase their own food and supplies, prioritizing the essentials for themselves. Food security is a critical home-related component in keeping people safe and healthy so they can thrive and enjoy the comforts of their home, especially during a pandemic.

With the remaining funds, the organization was also able to repair the kitchen of 98-year old man who has lived in the Ward 7 part of DC for more than half a century and served our country in WWII. As with many who are a part of the aging population, he has trouble with his memory and daily living activities. A newly repaired kitchen provided an opportunity to add safety measures to his kitchen, such as a stove emitted a gas odor and was over ten years old. Also, the knobs where broken. The new kitchen has also allowed his in-home health care provider to easily prepare meals and stock the fridge so there are easy and fresh food options on a regular basis.

“What was the cherry on top was seeing this wonderful man recently host his own 98th birthday at his home, and his family was able to use the newly-renovated kitchen to prepare cakes, family dishes, and more,” said Katharine Dixon. “Safeway’s funding single handedly changed the life of one of our nation’s heroes, allowing him to live out the rest of his life healthily and happily in the comfort of his home.”

ABOUT REBUILDING TOGETHER DC ALEXANDRIA
Rebuilding Together DC Alexandria is an award-winning, mission-driven organization that creates healthy neighborhoods for residents by maintaining housing for low-income homeowners, revitalizing community spaces, and creating homeownership opportunities. Since 1986, more than 30,000 volunteers have worked on 2,500 projects, leveraging $9 million worth of in-kind value. Applications are now being accepted from Alexandria and DC homeowners for free home repairs. www.RebuildingTogetherDCA.org.

ABOUT ALBERTSONS COMPANIES
The Albertsons Companies is one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States, with both a strong local presence and national scale. The company operates stores across 33 states and the District of Columbia under 18 well-known banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, ACME, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market and Carrs.