Supermarket School Supply Campaign

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – It has long been a mission of Hiller’s Markets Owner and CEO Jim Hiller to contribute to the communities surrounding his seven stores. Starting this week and running for a month, Hiller’s shoppers are invited to donate school supplies at all Hiller’s grocery stores to help Operation: Kid Equip arm every Michigan child with the right supplies to start a new school year.

“Albert Einstein said that ‘the value of a man resides in what he gives.’ A strong man, a good man, is one who uses his power and reach to help others,” says Jim Hiller, CEO of Hiller’s Markets, Southeast Michigan’s oldest local grocery chain.

"We are very excited to collaborate with Hiller's Markets to help meet the great demand for school supplies,” says Menachem-Michael Kniespeck, co-founder and executive director of Operation: Kid Equip. “Hiller's is well-known for corporate philanthropy and a dedication to community. This promises to be an excellent partnership as we work together to meet the needs of at-risk children and youth in our communities." 

Founded in 1941, Hiller’s Markets operates seven stores in Southeast Michigan. Dedicated to promoting local companies and cottage industries, Hiller’s indicates Michigan products with special shelf tags in every aisle and highlights Michigan companies in its biweekly circular. This partnership with Operation: Kid Equip, a Michigan charity, is another step in the ongoing effort to give Michigan a boost.

Hiller’s is dedicated to joining with community organizations – through its active Scrip card program, in support of events and by hosting specialty food fairs serving niche markets like gluten-free consumers. The company also has a long history of working with non-profits, including ALS of Michigan, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and Gleaners Food Bank.

“I am dedicated to working with good people and good organizations close to home,” says Hiller, whose groceries are located in Ann Arbor, Berkley, West Bloomfield, Northville, Plymouth, Commerce Township and Union Lake.

Operation: Kid Equip helps homeless, poor and low-income children in Oakland, Macomb and Wayne County. As of August 7, OKE had received parent applications for school supplies from families with a combined total of more than 5,000 children. The most-needed items are: spiral notebooks, filler paper, crayons, washable markers, large pink erasers, blunt tip scissors, rulers, pencils, pens and glue sticks.

Approximately 30 million American children are from low-income families; nearly 6 million live in extreme poverty, not knowing where their next meal will come from. In Michigan, more than 900,000 children face these challenges – and more than 170,000 Michigan households lack the money to obtain adequate food, let alone “extras” like school supplies. Research shows that students who lack basic school materials perform lower on tests, have troubled attendance and face psychosocial challenges at school and at home.

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