When it comes to enriching lives in the communities we serve, Meijer partners with hundreds of organizations from across our footprint. While our established partners are so valuable to us, it’s still as exciting as ever to see a new partnership begin to develop and flourish, like it has in our Grand Rapids market with the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan.
Our Grand Rapids store on 28th St. was looking for partners to hold flu shot clinics and connected with the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan. Together, they administered 500 flu shots to people in that community, and a partnership was born.
While working with the center, Grand Rapids Market Director Jay Mahabir got to know Hispanic Center Manager Alejandra Meza and learned more about what the center does in the community.
Jay learned one way the center serves its population is by busing them to local stores to teach them how to economically shop for food to feed their families. Jay jumped at the chance and offered Meijer stores for them to teach this important skill.
It wasn’t long before Jay heard from Alejandra again. She contacted him after receiving a state grant to buy food for a Thanksgiving food drive. Jay worked with Meijer merchants and, in one day, they had a great deal on hams to provide to the Hispanic Center. Not only that, but Jay made their dollars stretch even further by donating additional money to purchase extra food items to round out the holiday meal.
From a flu shot clinic to a successful food drive, Jay says the relationship between Meijer and the Hispanic Center of West Michigan has flourished, especially in such a short time.