February 12, 2026

Kroger partners with MUST Ministries to create two new school pantries

Marietta-based MUST Ministries recently celebrated a generous contribution made by Kroger and several of its vendor partners to open two new Neighborhood Pantries in Atlanta.

MUST’s Neighborhood Pantry program currently has 18 pantries embedded in Title 1 schools, helping students from across 70 schools who are in need of food. Each student receives a monthly distribution of food for his or her entire family, filled with fresh meats, produce and shelf-stable items.

Kroger and its vendors donated $217,000 toward opening the two new pantries, which will be embedded at Hank Aaron High School and South Fulton High School. In total, the pantries will serve 300 students each month.

The donation is made through Kroger’s Zero Hunger I Zero Waste initiative, and a check presentation was recently held with executives from Kroger, its vendor partners, MUST Ministries and the Atlanta-based nonprofit Caring For Others, which was also a beneficiary. The event was held at the Terrell Mill Kroger in Marietta.

“No child should ever go hungry, so this donation will ensure that many more children will not only be fed at school, but they and their families will be fed at home as well,” said MUST President & CEO Dr. Ike Reighard. “For many children, the only meals they eat are the ones they receive at school. A local principal told me once that she had a student who said she was hungry because it was not her turn to eat at dinner the night before. It’s heartbreaking, it’s real, but this is a real solution. We are deeply grateful to Kroger and their vendor partners for helping us expand this much-needed program.”

Vendors who made financial contributions to MUST for the Neighborhood Pantry expansion include Blue Bell Creameries, Bogle Wines, Coca Cola Bottling Company United, Constellation Wines, Delicato Family Wines, Primo Brands – Saratoga Water, Red Bull, Republic National Distributing Co., Trinchero Wines, Wagner Family Wines and The Wine Group.

A diverse group of smiling adults poses indoors, some kneeling, holding a large check from Kroger labeled Community Partner to support Must Ministries and those who are food insecure. A Starbucks sign hangs in the background; everyone appears cheerful and celebratory.
A woman in a green suit is interviewed about food insecurity by a man with a microphone and notepad in a grocery store aisle, while a cameraman films the conversation. Shelves with food and drinks are visible in the background.
A group of people smile and pose indoors while holding a large $10,000 check from Kroger to MUST Ministries, supporting food insecure families. A Kroger banner is in the background.
A group of people smile and pose together indoors, holding a large ceremonial check from Kroger for $8,584.00 to Must Ministries, supporting food donation efforts for the food insecure in the community, dated January 7, 2026.
A group of people holding a large check to support food donation efforts with MUST Ministries and their neighborhood pantry.
Eight people stand smiling and holding a large ceremonial Kroger and Delicato check for $15,000 made out to Must Ministries, supporting the fight against food insecurity, against a white background with Kroger logos.
A group of people smiling and holding a large ceremonial check for $15,000 made out to Must Ministries from Kroger and Wagner, supporting efforts to help the food insecure, with a Kroger Bonanza banner in the background.
A group of people pose indoors, smiling and holding an oversized $10,000 food donation check for Must Ministries from Franzia, dated January 6, 2026, with Kroger, Must Ministries, and The Wine Group logos in support of a neighborhood pantry.
A diverse group smiles and poses indoors, holding an oversized check from Kroger for $287,420.50 to Community Partner in support of Must Ministries’ food donation efforts. Kroger branding and a Starbucks logo are visible in the background.
A man in a suit, identified by a badge as Victor, speaks at a podium with a microphone. The Kroger logo and “Zero Hunger | Zero Waste” signs highlight efforts to support food insecure families through neighborhood pantry initiatives.
Two men in business attire shake hands at a podium during a formal event, with a microphone and a backdrop displaying the Kroger logo and “Zero Hunger Zero Waste,” highlighting their commitment to addressing food insecurity.
Six people stand together smiling as one holds a large ceremonial check for $117,000 made out to Community Partner from Coca-Cola United and Kroger, dated January 7, 2026, supporting food insecurity efforts through the ZHED/School Pantry.

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