Bi-Lo Holdings Foundation and Winn-Dixie stores present checks to Mississippi Salvation Army chapters, including the one in Meridian.

    During this season of giving, the Bi-Lo Holdings Foundation is giving more than $53,000 to benefit five local nonprofits throughout the Mississippi Gulf Coast in collaboration with its Winn-Dixie stores, a company press release states.

    The Salvation Army of Meridian is among the recipients and was granted $10,000.

    The donations are in addition to the more than $297,500 the grocer is awarding to organizations throughout the Winn-Dixie New Orleans Region store footprint, which encompasses areas from the Florida Panhandle through Lafayette, Louisiana.

    “The Bi-Lo Holdings Foundation is thankful for the immense support and contributions of our business partners who enable us to provide these funds to local organizations who share our mission to alleviate hunger in our communities,” said Mary Kellmanson, foundation president and chief marketing officer of Bi-Lo Holdings. “We look forward to growing our relationships with these organizations throughout the coming year.”

    Grants were awarded to charitable organizations with missions to address hunger alleviation and hunger-related health and education issues. The foundation reviewed applications from several hundred nonprofit groups and conducted in-depth reviews of their services and reach within each community.

    On Thursday, Nov. 13, representatives from the Bi-Lo Holdings Foundation and its Winn-Dixie stores presented checks to the organizations that were chosen to receive this year’s grants.

    The Bi-Lo Holdings Foundation grant recipient organizations in the Mississippi Gulf Coast areas:

    The Salvation Army of Hattiesburg

    Disability Connection

    The Salvation Army of Meridian

    The Salvation Army of Mississippi Gulf Coast

    The Salvation Army of Laurel