Fry's Food and Drug

Earlier today, Fry's Food and Drug, leaders, Phoenix District 7 Councilman Carlos Galindo-Elvira, and local heroes from the City of Phoenix Fire Department braved scorching temperatures to host a demonstration of their fast-cooling method, which is used to treat life-threatening, heat-related illness. When a patient’s body temperature surpasses 104 degrees, firefighters immerse them in a special cooling bag filled with ice and evaluate their vital signs until their temperature drops to 101 degrees. Firefighters use this method around four times a day, and since they need 5 bags of ice for a patient who only weighs 90-pounds, they go through a lot of cubes to help save lives this time of year. Due to the high demand of ice across the Valley during the peak summer months, it can be a challenge for firefighters to keep enough ice on hand, so Fry’s stepped in to help answer the department’s call for help by donating $50 gift cards to each of Phoenix’s 60 fire stations, totaling $3,000. This generous donation will aid Phoenix Firefighters in their effort to make sure they have an adequate supply of ice to use when responding to heat-related emergencies. Fry’s is always focused on supporting our communities where we live and work, so it was an honor to be part of this event in support of the Phoenix Fire Department and Arizonans in need. Big thanks to Councilman Galindo-Elvira and all the wonderful people who helped this partnership come to fruition. We are truly grateful to firefighters and first responders everywhere who put themselves at risk every day, to save others. To everyone in Arizona, please stay safe and remember to hydrate – especially in these hot summer months! #feedthehumanspirit #loveourcommunity #thankyoufirefighters

Well, it was easier getting in, than getting out, but thanks to the amazing Travis Shumake, an Arizona native and the first openly gay NHRA racecar driver, Governor Hobbs and I made it out safely. It was an honor to be invited to the capitol when Travis presented his beautiful race car to the Governor. Of course, I thought it was extra beautiful with the Fry's Food Stores logo front and center. Fry’s is thrilled and so grateful to be one of Travis’ top sponsors, along with the Arizona Lottery having the opportunity to support him in all he does. For Fry’s, and for me, this means so much more than a race. Travis is the world’s first openly gay racecar driver, and we’re proud to stand alongside this Arizona native as he takes on his homecoming NHRA race in his hometown. It is also very exciting to see one•n•ten logo on the car because this gesture spotlights this appreciated organization which has such a positive impact on the LGBTQ+ youth in our communities. Personally, it’s so fun to work at a company that can still surprise me and provide so much fun and fulfillment, even after 40-years.

Fry's Food Stores is honored to partner with Hopi Relief in their ongoing efforts to distribute food and necessary supplies to the Hopi community as well as establish the first-ever food pantry and resource center on the Hopi reservation. The $10,000 donation on behalf of Fry's Food and Drug's was awarded as part of Kroger's Zero Hunger | Zero Waste social impact plan to end hunger in communities. Fry's looks forward to continuing this important partnership with Hopi Relief and the incredible work they're doing to serve every village and community member within the Hopi reservation. #zerohungerzerowaste

Another day, another wonderful opportunity to support our community. I was so grateful to help facilitate an impactful donation that took place last week at our Fry’s Food Store located at Guadalupe & Signal Butte in Mesa. We helped the U.S. Army’s 653D Regional Support Group with their canned and non-perishable food drive for House of Refuge, a very worthy cause that provides transitional housing in a neighborhood setting for homeless families. Fry’s donated a $500 gift card, which was used to purchase important items requested by the nonprofit. Afterwards, troops from the 653D Regional Support Group picked up and delivered the food to homeless families, who were grateful to receive love and support from the community. It humbles me to know there are so many families in Arizona who go without basic needs and I’m grateful to work for and support a company that cares so much about ending hunger.

We had an incredible time at the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce's ATHENA Awards. Fry's Food Stores was a sponsor of this important event that celebrates women who demonstrate inspiring leadership within their industry, mentor women throughout their career, and dedicate themselves to the community. Our very own Monica Garnes, President, Frys's Food Stores won this award in 2020 and it means so much that this honor continues to recognize powerful women in Arizona and beyond. And even though our Fry's women didn't receive official awards this year, it was humbling to be at a table with such incredibly accomplished, smart, and kind women who uplift each other and make a positive impact on everyone they come in contact with.

Earlier this month, I got to meet an incredible woman named Kemani Jackson. Kemani is smart, vibrant, tenacious, and an all-around inspiring human who is pursuing her associate degree in general business at Estrella Mountain Community College and her bachelor’s degree in human resource management at Purdue Northwest University in Indiana. And she plans to continue her academic career after that by earning her MBA at Arizona State University – all while working in Human Resources and earning her Arizona real estate license. She’s working this hard because she wants to invest in real estate to make communities better and more affordable for low-income families. Simply put, Kemani wants to, “make the world a better place and be a good role model to future generations.”   That’s a tall order for anyone, but Kemani is determined. And her determination is infectious. That’s why Kroger and P&G launched the Game Changers Program last year, which awards scholarships to help women, like Kemani, do good in the world. This year, Kroger and P&G awarded $46,000 in scholarships, all to women of color, across all 23 Kroger Divisions. Twenty-three $2,000 Game Changers Scholarships were given to women pursuing business-related, sciences, technical and/or liberal arts undergraduate degrees or certificates. I am so impressed with Kemani, her accomplishments, and her commitment to making our community better. Kemani’s hard work and postive spirit is a reminder to keep pushing to achieve what you want most in this world. I’m so grateful to have met her and look forward to see who Fry's Food and Drug next year!

Last week, on a beautiful fall day, I had the pleasure of meeting with some incredibly dedicated University of Arizona staff members. They wanted to say Thank you to The Kroger Zero Hunger/ Zero Waste Foundation in partnership with Fry's Food Stores for supporting their Campus Pantry, Rooftop Greenhouse and Compost Cats. Highlights of our time together included some incredible events that I’ll remember forever.   We started with a visit to the Rooftop Greenhouse where UArizona students grow fresh produce for their food pantry. Students across the University benefit from the greenhouse in multiple ways, including exposure to food challenges in climates like ours, research to benefit the future of food, and the gift of fresh produce, made possible through the Greenhouse. Each year, the Rooftop Greenhouse generates 5,000 - 6,000 pounds of fresh produce for distribution through the Campus Pantry.   After a check presentation, we shared a meal at Radicchio, the University’s all-you-care-to-eat dining option that is entirely plant-based. The amazing Mediterranean cold bar, salad bar and soups were enjoyed by all. We then visited the Campus Pantry, where students, student workers and volunteers were busy distributing food to combat food insecurity. The Campus Pantry was first chartered in the spring of 2012 by a small group of student volunteers with a passion for serving UArizona students and staff members. Today, the Pantry sees as many as 2000 users each week.    Next, we took a drive to The Cooper Center for Environmental Learning – a joint project between UArizona and the Tucson Unified School District. At Cooper, preschool and elementary school students learned all about desert life including how food waste can be used to help us grow healthy food. The Cooper Center hosts one of our Compost Cats’ demonstration sites.  Compost Cats began with a student proposal to do something better with food scraps from the student union than send them to the landfill. In five years, that effort has grown into a tri-institutional partnership program that takes in material from across Tucson, southern Arizona, and beyond. At Cooper, kids learn the important role food waste can play from feeding wildlife to growing more healthy food.   It was incredible to see, firsthand, how the donation from the Kroger Zero Hunger / Zero Waste Foundation in partnership with Fry's Food Stores aided in the collaboration between organizations and positively impacted University students and the community at large. I’m so grateful to get to be part of this experience and it’s humbling to work for Kroger and Fry’s who make all these great things happen in Arizona and beyond. #ZeroHunger#ZeroWaste