United Family helps raise $300,000 for wildfire disaster relief fund

The United Family and the Southern Division of Albertsons Companies presented a check for $300,000 to the Amarillo Area Foundation from monies raised at its supermarkets' registers for Texas Panhandle wildfire disaster relief.

With these funds, the Amarillo Area Foundation will use its Panhandle Disaster Relief Fund to help those affected by the recent wildfires as part of its continuing mission to serve those in need in the Texas Panhandle.

“I want to thank the guests across the region for answering the call to help our neighbors in the Texas Panhandle,” said Sidney Hopper, president of The United Family, in a news release. “There is nothing more powerful than neighbors helping each other. And, of course, I would like to thank the Southern Division for their partnership and commitment to the community; these funds are going to have a significant impact. Lastly, I would like to thank the Amarillo Area Foundation for their tireless work to help this region recover during tough times like these.”

The United Family operates under seven banners in North and West Texas and New Mexico, including United Supermarkets, Market Street, Amigos and United Express, among others. The Southern Division includes Tom Thumb and Albertsons in Dallas-Fort Worth, Randalls in Austin and Houston, and Albertsons in Louisiana.

Melanie Smoot, the vice president of development at the Amarillo Area Foundation, spoke about the impact of the donation on helping wildfire victims.

“This will help us to meet the needs of all of the counties impacted by the wildfires,” Smoot said. “Our work consists of some immediate disaster response, but we will also be doing some long-term support for the wildfires for all the counties that were impacted by this historic fire."

Smoot said that this was one of the largest donations that the foundation has received in the Panhandle Disaster Relief Fund.

“The United Family has been our partner for nearly 30 years in many ways,” she said. “We are so grateful for this wonderful gift and our ongoing relationship with the United Family.”

She says that this donation is a part of the long-term goal of the Amarillo Area Foundation with its wildfire relief effort of partnering with nonprofits in the communities that were impacted and making sure that they make distribution to those nonprofits doing the frontline work in these communities. "We vet every organization we work with to ensure these dollars support the families and ranchers who need it," she said.

Smoot said the foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life for those in the Texas Panhandle. According to Smoot, people from all over the country have reached out to support those affected by the recent tragedy.

“We have already dispersed $1.3 million throughout the region, and we are really proud to be able to do that,” Smoot said. "We intend to be a partner long term, with the needs still being there for those recovering from the wildfires."

To find out more about the Amarillo Area Foundation or to donate, go to https://amarilloareafoundation.org/ .

Chris James, the chief operating officer for the United Family, spoke about his company’s commitment to the community.

“At United, we think that being part of the community means being a good neighbor," James said. “We want to help anyone in need; while we are in the food business, we are foremost in the people business. We have stores throughout the Texas Panhandle and want to do our part to pitch in to help.”

James said that this aligns with the mission of the United Family and that this money was raised from the people who shop in the communities that United serves.

“We want to be a part of the community, and we want to give everyone else in the community the opportunity to contribute to great causes in the community,” he said. “Fortunately, we have a lot of great people who are always willing to chip in and help out their neighbors. I am only glad that we can be a part of it.”

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: United Family, Albertsons gives $300,000 to wildfire relief fund