Kroger plans to give at least $19,500 to the food bank as well.
The building, land and non-proprietary equipment will also be donated with no restrictions on future use.
Read more on the Kroger closure: ‘This impact will be deeply felt’: Groups say Kroger closure to hurt south Springfield
“When it became clear to us that Kroger would not keep the South Limestone store open, we asked the company to do right by our community,” said City Manager Bryan Heck. “Closing this store left the community without fresh food options and would create difficulties for some individuals to reach other grocery stores due to mobility issues.”
City officials are hosting an open forum tonight to update the community about the results of a closed-door meeting held with Kroger executives.
The forum will be at 7 p.m. at the Dome, the former South High School. Anyone needing transportation to the meeting can text RIDE2DOME to 41411 or call Think Tank Inc. directly at 937-322-4970 to receive a free ride.
Residents attending should come in through the Career ConnectED side of the building, located at 700 S. Limestone St.
City of Springfield officials met with Kroger executives on Thursday to discuss the grocery chain’s decision to close their location on South Limestone. Officials have remained tight-lipped about what went on in the meeting.
Springfield Mayor Warren Copeland said prior to the meeting that the city was in the process of attempting to convince Kroger to “walk away from the building so it is available for someone else to provide food to the area.”
Kroger announced on Jan. 31 that their store at 1822 S. Limestone St. will close on March 4, as part of the company’s Restock Kroger plan, the company said.
The store’s closure will affect an area of Springfield that already has limited options for their grocery needs, Copeland said previously.
Neighborhoods south of downtown Springfield will be considered a food desert with the closure, the Clark County Combined Health District said. Food deserts are defined as geographic areas devoid of fresh fruit, vegetables and other healthy foods, according to the CCCHD.
On Friday, The Springfield Foundation launched a community fund to raise money to put towards a solution for the food desert.
How the money will be used will be determined at a later date, but it will go towards helping people in the weeks or years to come following the closure — such as transportation or infrastructure solutions, Springfield Foundation Director of Development & Marketing Victoria Richards said.
Read more on The Springfield Foundation fund: Springfield Foundation sets up fund in wake of Kroger closure
“While we don’t have immediate long-term solutions now, we do know that they’re going to cost money,” Richards said.
The foundation’s board of directors chose to move forward with the initiative to create The Community Food Crisis Action Fund within the last week, Richards said on Friday.
The fund was jumped-started by a $25,000 donation from The Springfield Foundation.
Anyone interested in donating to the community fund can mail a check to The Springfield Foundation at 333 N. Limestone or go to the foundation’s website and designate the money to go towards food insecurity or the community relief fund.
How to go
What: Community forum on Springfield Kroger closing
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
Where: The Dome, former South High School, 700 S. Limestone St., Springfield. (Enter on Career ConnectED side of the building.)
For transportation: Text RIDE2DOME to 41411 or call Think Tank Inc. at 937-322-4970
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