LANDOVER, Md.— Giant Food is donating $1.5 million to address the needs of its communities during the coronavirus crisis, the company announced Tuesday. The donations will be directed to a variety of Giant’s nonprofit partners across its service region to provide support to those in need and struggling with access to necessary food and supplies during this challenging time.

“Our nonprofit partners are under extraordinary pressure right now and need everyone’s support to continue their vital services,” Ira Kress, interim president of Giant, said in a statement. “We’re here to assist them in any way that we can during this unprecedented situation, and we hope that our customers will join us in giving back and helping their neighbors in need.”

The $1.5 million in funds will be distributed as follows:

• $550,000 and 1,200 hams, previously announced, to be given to Giant’s five local Feeding America food banks: Capital Area Food Bank, Maryland Food Bank, Food Bank of Delaware, Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank and Blue Ridge Area Food Bank.
• $500,000 to Johns Hopkins University to support coronavirus response efforts, patient care and research for teams working to understand the nature of the virus and develop effective detection, diagnosis, treatment and prevention methods.
• $500,000 divided among local nonprofits throughout Giant’s communities including: Save the Children and No Kids Hungry, Meals on Wheels, Blessings in a Backpack, Boys & Girls Club and Martha’s Table.

Giant said it is also providing ways for its customers to help neighbors that may be affected by the pandemic or are food insecure. Members of Giant’s Flexible Rewards Program can designate the value of their Flexible Points for dollar donations to Giant’s five Feeding America food bank partners. Customers can use points for donations (100 points equals a $1 donation) and Giant said that 100% of those donations will go to help people in financial need to get groceries and supplies. Giant will distribute the donated funds each week to food banks so that benefits are available as soon as possible. Customers wanting to participate in the Flexible Rewards program can sign up for free, or upgrade at Giantfood.com

Giant customers can also “Round Up” the change on their in-store purchases to the nearest dollar amount. The change will be donated to Feeding America food bank partners across the region, the company said.

Giant, a unit of Ahold Delhaize, is a regional grocery chain serving the greater Washington D.C. area with 163 supermarkets in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia.