Food City’s retail supermarket chain annually recognizes outstanding volunteerism among their associates via the 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 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 winners, followed by two divisional winners. 

Doris Banks from the Whitesburg, KY Food City and Howard Robb of the Fairfield Glade Food City in Crossville, TN received this year’s coveted divisional awards. 

Ms. Banks has been employed with Food City for seventeen years and currently serves as Floral Manager for their Whitesburg, KY location.  She is a long-time volunteer for American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, organizing teams, holding monthly meetings, assisting with t-shirt sales, securing corporate sponsors, making luminaries and serving as a team member.  She is an eighteen year volunteer with Girl Scouts of America, selling and delivering cookies; Letcher Manor Nursing Home, collecting and wrapping lap quilts for residents at Christmas and helps with a number of private fundraisers within Letcher County to assist area residents in need.  Ms. Banks also works with Coats for Kids, collecting donations and delivering coats; Veterans’ Center at Hazard, collecting and arranging delivery of blankets for the residents at Christmas; Letcher County Schools, decorating for prom, graduation and other special events, purchasing prom corsages and boutonnieres for needy students and selling advertisements for their Golf Scramble and Autism Awareness, co-hosting their radio-thon, answering phones and assisting with fundraising efforts.  She volunteers at her local church food pantry, collecting and delivering food donations, serves as a Salvation Army bell ringer and assists Disabled Veterans, Food for Hunger and Childhood Diabetes with various fundraisers.

“I am very excited to be named the divisional winner. It is awesome to work for a company that acknowledges and supports what you do in your community,” said Ms. Banks.

Howard Robb has been employed with Food City for two years.  He currently serves as a Meat Cutter for their Fairfield Glade location in Crossville, TN. He is a fifteen year volunteer for the Fairfield Glade Fire Department, where he has served as Fire Chief for the past six years, as well as a trainer for new recruits.  He is a ten year  volunteer with REACH Youth Organization and United Methodist Work Camps, where he serves as a carpentry instructor for junior high and high school students.  He is also a ten year volunteer with United Methodist Committee on Relief and Christ Lutheran Church Disaster Relief, helping rebuild homes damaged by natural disasters.  Robb made three trips to the Gulf Coast to assist with recovery efforts following Hurricane Katrina.  

        
 “I was surprised to be named the divisional winner.  I’ve been doing volunteer work for so many years and it is so nice to be recognized by Food City,“ said Robb.

A corporate luncheon was recently held to publicly recognize these winners for their outstanding service achievements.  They were presented with an honorary plaque and Food City will make a $500 contribution (in addition to the district level contribution) on their behalf to the charity of their 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 operates 105 retail food outlets throughout the tri-state regions of Southeast Kentucky, Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee.