Giant Food is marking its 90th anniversary with community-focused giving, including a partnership that lets Charles County shoppers directly support local students facing food insecurity. From July 10 through Aug. 6, customers at Giant stores in Charles County can round up their purchases at the register to benefit Charles County Public Schools food and meal programs.
The Nourishing Our Youth Giant Food Round Up program channels those small contributions into resources that help ensure students have access to meals beyond the regular school day. Last year’s effort raised more than $9,000 for CCPS, funding support for families served through the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. That federal law requires school districts to remove barriers to education for children and youth experiencing homelessness, including access to food outside school hours.
Childhood hunger remains a persistent challenge in many communities. When students lack reliable meals, their ability to focus in class, participate in activities and maintain consistent attendance can suffer. CCPS has expanded several initiatives to address these needs, including the Community Eligibility Provision that provides free breakfast and lunch to all students at qualifying schools, on-site food pantries at many locations, and summer meal distribution programs that bring food directly to families in harder-to-reach areas.
The Round Up donations complement those efforts by supplying flexible funding for weekend backpack programs, snacks and meals at Title I events, after-school programming and other targeted supports. In previous years, similar contributions have helped cover costs for events such as ESOL community nights and provided additional nourishment for students who might otherwise go without.
Giant Food, founded in 1936 in Washington, D.C., has long integrated customer giving into its operations. This year’s anniversary celebrations include a broader “90 Days of Giving” initiative that has directed nearly a million dollars to regional food banks and nonprofits focused on hunger relief. The Charles County Round Up is part of Giant’s annual Nourishing Our Youth campaign, which operates in multiple states and has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in recent years for local school nutrition efforts.
Participation requires no extra effort beyond what shoppers already do. At checkout, customers are asked if they would like to round their total up to the nearest dollar. Every cent goes to CCPS programs. There is no minimum donation, and the process takes only a moment. The campaign runs exclusively at Giant locations serving Charles County during the specified summer window.
For families and educators in Southern Maryland, the partnership offers a tangible way to strengthen the safety net around students. Reliable nutrition supports academic success and overall well-being, particularly for those navigating housing instability or economic hardship. CCPS staff, including the Youth in Transition coordinator, work year-round to connect eligible students and families with available resources, and these community contributions help sustain that work.
Shoppers who want more information about the program or how the funds are used can visit the dedicated Giant giving page. The simple round-up model has proven effective in previous campaigns because it turns routine grocery trips into meaningful support without requiring separate donations or complex enrollment.
As Giant Food celebrates nine decades of serving the region, the Charles County initiative highlights how everyday commerce can intersect with local needs. By opting to round up, customers become direct partners in helping ensure that Charles County students have one less barrier to learning and one more reason to arrive at school ready to succeed.
