Publix Supermarkets is donating $1 million to support relief in the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia, Northern Florida’s worst landfall in over a century.
Publix is the largest employee-owned company in the United States, a supermarket chain with over 1,300 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Virginia, and the Carolinas. With over 250,000 employees, they’ve been recognized as an exceptional employer for decades.
Their name has been tied to hurricanes for a while – in 2019, photos of Publix cakes decorated with storm radar images and “Be safe!” appeared in advance of Hurricane Dorian went viral, and they’ve come back again and again. But this year, Publix has a policy – no more hurricane cakes that “make light of a natural disaster,” even by request.
Maybe they’ll rethink that. The two Publix locations so far flooded by Idalia should have the right to make fun of whatever they wish.
But cakes or not, the supermarket chain is throwing its weight to helping those affected. Publix Super Markets Charities, the charitable arm of the co-op, has collected donations from members and employee-owners to help fund relief efforts in the hardest-hit parts of Florida and Georgia, where storm surge and unusually high tides combined to flood city streets.
Publix has also activated a company-wide donation campaign, where customers and associates can make donations of any amount at checkout, with the full amount going to support nonprofit organizations mobilizing in the Florida panhandle.
“We’re thankful to Publix Charities for their generous donation to help the people affected by Hurricane Idalia,” said Publix CEO Todd Jones. “And I’m proud of our more than 250,000 associates who are working hard to take care of our customers, our communities and each other every day, especially in times of disaster.”
Publix is supporting the American Red Cross, United Way, and the Florida Fund. If you’d like to support relief efforts, please choose your charities carefully to make sure your dollar goes its furthest.