Food City’s retail supermarket chain annually recognizes outstanding volunteerism among their associates via their Claude P. Varney Volunteer Recognition Program.  The creation of the program came in response to President Bush’s call to boost volunteer efforts through corporate support.  During a June 2002 White House meeting, President Bush met with corporate leaders from organizations across the nation and key White House staff members to discuss objectives for his Businesses Strengthening America volunteerism campaign.  Steve Smith, Food City president and chief executive officer was among the select group. 

“As a company, we strive to maintain a high level of dedication to service, quality, value and community involvement, while providing a work environment that enables our associates to grow both personally and professionally as successful members of the team,” says Smith.  “Many of our associates volunteer their time and talents to numerous organizations in support of their communities and we felt it needful to formally recognize their selfless contributions.”

The program was entitled in memory of Food City’s beloved former president and board vice-chairman of 47 years, Claude P. Varney.  Varney was well-known for his tremendous compassion and humanitarian services.  Each year, committees are established to review associate volunteer activities and select individual award recipients based on outstanding achievement in the areas of health, education, environment, cultural arts, recreational, heritage/history and public service.  One winner is selected from each Food City location.  The field is then narrowed to ten district level winners, followed by two divisional winners and finally the recipient of the highly esteemed Claude P. Varney Humanitarian Award. 

After reviewing his exceptional commitment to serving others, it’s not hard to see why Brett Farmer of Clintwood, VA was selected as this year’s Claude P. Varney Humanitarian Award recipient.  Farmer has been employed with Food City for four years.  He currently serves as a lighting technician for Food City’s corporate headquarters.  He volunteers a great deal of his time and talents with the Clintwood Volunteer Fire Department.  Farmer currently serves as the department’s Explorer Supervisor, training new firefighters and conducting weekly meetings.  He is certified as an exterior firefighter and responds to weather related events, local and multi-state search and rescue missions and drives the fire trucks.  Farmer also serves as an interior firefighter, assisting with equipment clean up and maintenance, interior search and rescue missions, fire suppression and extinguishment, extricating patients from car accidents and setting up landing zones for Wings Air Rescue.  He has completed the US Pro-Board Certification for Firefighter Level 1, as well as 400 hours of Virginia Department of Fire Training.

“It is an honor to receive this award from Food City and always remember the 343 firefighters who lost their lives on 9/11.  They deserve the highest recognition,” said Farmer.

A corporate luncheon was recently held to publicly recognize Farmer for his outstanding service achievements.  He was presented with an honorary award and Food City will make a $1,000 contribution (in addition to the district level contribution) on his behalf to the charity of his choice. 

“We’re extremely proud of the difference our associates make by devoting their time and talents to the service of others.  Our company is committed to providing our associates the support they need to become the best corporate citizens possible,” summarized Smith.

Headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia, K-VA-T Food Stores (Food City’s parent company) operates 135 retail outlets throughout southeast Kentucky, southwest Virginia, east Tennessee, Chattanooga and north Georgia.