Food City is well-known for their exceptional customer service and community involvement throughout their market area. Each year the supermarket retailer recognizes outstanding volunteerism among their associates with their Claude P. Varney Volunteer Recognition Program.

“As a company, we strive to maintain a high level of dedication to service, quality, value and community involvement, while providing a work environment that enables our associates to grow both personally and professionally as successful members of our team,” said Steven C. Smith, Food City’s president and chief executive officer.

Following his attendance at a June 2002 White House meeting geared toward boosting national volunteerism through corporate support, Smith administered the creation of Food City’s Claude P. Varney Volunteer Recognition Program, in memory of their beloved former president and board vice-chairman. Throughout his 47-year career, Varney brought a great deal of foresight and knowledge to Food City and the grocery industry but was most noted for his tremendous compassion and humanitarian services. 

“Many of our associates volunteer their time and talents to charitable organizations across our market area, and we want to recognize the valuable services and support they provide,” said Smith. 

Each year, special committees are established to review associate volunteer activities and select individual award recipients based on outstanding achievement in the areas of health, education, environment, cultural arts, recreational, heritage/history and public service. One overall winner is selected from each Food City location and corporate levels. Of those entries, the following individual store winners were selected:

Andrew Schmauss – Food City, Rossville, GA

Kiara Cespeded Bello  – Food City, Dalton, GA

Tristan Hurley – Food City, Calhoun, GA

Sandra Perry – Food City, Ringgold, GA

Carrie Wilson – Food City, Rossville, GA

Jeremias Snowden – Food City, Cartersville, GA

Debbie Jackson  – Food City, Chatsworth, GA

Norma Holt – Food City, Trenton, GA

Debbra Zielinski – Food City, Fort Oglethorpe, GA

Elizabeth Nicoson – Food City, LaFayette, GA

Phyllis Cornett – Food City, Paintsville, KY

Shirley Varney – Food City, Williamson, KY

Travis Moody – Food City, Middlesboro, KY

Amanda Jordan – Food City, Louisa, KY

Donna Southard – Food City, Harlan, KY

Tasheia Holliday – Food City, Hazard, KY

Jordan Bartley – Food City, Pikeville, KY

Mark E Hudack – Food City, Cumberland, KY

Keith Younce – Food City, Prestonsburg, KY

Leah Bowen – Food City, Shelbiana - Pikeville, KY

RACHEL TIDWELL – Food City, Albertville, AL

Vickie Knight – Food City, Fort Payne, AL

Bridgett Arrington – Food City, Owens Cross Roads, AL

Delanie Stapp – Food City, S. Roan St., Johnson City, TN

Adisynne Bible – Food City, East Morris Blvd, Morristown, TN

Carl Wolfe – Food City, Church Hill, TN

Karla Mahon – Food City, Eastern Plaza, Newport, TN

Jamie Horton – Food City, Eastman Rd. Kingsport, TN

Casey Frost – Food City, Snapps Ferry Rd., Greeneville, TN

Mary Gulley – Food City, Sandstone Drive, Morristown, TN

Shaun Lister – Food City, Asheville Hwy., Greeneville, TN

Wade Randall – Food City, Kodak, TN

Joe Evertt – Food City, Pigeon Forge, TN

Tammy Brosch – Food City, Gatlinburg, TN

Isabella Catron – Food City, Rogersville, TN

Melissa Smith – Food City, Western Plaza, Newport, TN

Daphne Lakin – Food City, Jefferson City, TN

Bettye Venable – Food City, Hardin Valley, Knoxville, TN

Vicki Crowe – Food City, Volunteer Parkway, Bristol, TN

Laura Brown – Food City, White Pine, TN

Sarah Fennell – Food City, Blaine, TN

Shelley Wolffe – Food City, Vonore, TN

Dana Sowder – Food City, Virginia Ave., Bristol, TN

Linda Tipton – Food City, Erwin, TN

Natalie Murrell – Food City, Alcoa, TN

Kim Brickey – Food City, State of Franklin, Johnson City, TN

Christina Connors – Food City, Elizabethton, TN

Viola Edmonds – Food City, Harriman, TN

Brittany Dunn – Food City, Jonesborough, TN

Samuel Payne  – Food City, N. Roan St., Johnson City, TN

Teresa Hall – Food City, Oliver Springs, TN

Betty Garcia – Food City, Seymour, TN

Brandon Miracle – Food City, New Tazewell, TN

Mary Ellen Guzy – Food City, Cool Springs Rd, Morristown, TN

Randy Sparks – Food City, East Broadway, Maryville, TN

Kathy McCoy – Food City, Lenoir City, TN

Robin Smith  – Food City, West Broadway, Maryville, TN

April Klein – Food City, Kingston, TN

Angela Manning – Food City, Clinton, TN

Jackie Brown – Food City, Strawberry Plains - Knoxville, TN

Amanda Godsey – Food City, Crossville, TN

Heather Matlock – Food City, LaFollette, TN

Palla Godsey – Food City, Fairfield Glade - Crossville, TN

Diane Daugherty – Food City, E. Andrew Johnson Hwy, Greeneville, TN

Patricia Miller – Food City, Moreland Dr., Kingsport, TN

Kayleigh Kirby – Food City, Teaster Ln., Piegeon Forge, TN

Isaiah Stone – Food City, Dolly Parton Pkwy., Seveirville, TN

Patty Blackstock – Food City, Newport Hwy., Sevierville, TN

Logan Leonard – Food City, Blountville, TN

Juliann Bryan – Food City, Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, TN

Dustin Pierce – Food City, Bearden Center, Knoxville, TN

Karina Nusbaum – Food City, Western Ave., Knoxville, TN

Brooke Blalock – Food City, Clinton Hwy., Knoxville, TN

Martin Smith – Food City, Malone Creek Dr., Knoxville, TN

Mona Napier – Food City, Powell, TN

Ava Tiller – Food City, Maynardville, TN

Dee Childress – Food City, Oak Ridge, TN

Rosemary Gendreau – Food City, Mountain Grove Dr., Knoxville, TN

Dawn Mccormick – Food City, Cookville, TN

Sue McDonald – Food City, Athens, TN

Zoe Ketner – Food City, Loves Creek Rd., Knoxville, TN

Rivers Krantz  – Food City, Halls Center, Knoxville, TN

David Williams – Food City, Winchester, TN

David Hill – Food City, Kimball, TN 

Evan stone – Food City, Morrell Rd., Knoxville, TN

Mike Berry – Food City, Piney Flats, TN

Janise Carlton  – Food City, E. Brainerd Rd., Chattanooga, TN

Lori Quigg – Food City, 5604 Hixson Pk., Hixson, TN

David Simmons  – Food City, Hwy. 58, Chattanooga, TN

Sheila Moore – Food City, East Ridge, TN

Travis Ruff – Food City, Broad St., Chattanooga, TN

Eric Hozouri – Food City, Ocoee Crossing, Cleveland, TN

Deborah Hafterson – Food City, 8530 Hixson Pk., Hixson, TN

Russell harp – Food City, Signal Mtn. Rd., Chattanooga, TN

David L. Harris – Food City, Tennessee Ave., Chattanooga, TN

Cat Neeley – Food City, Highway 58, Harrison, TN

Jennifer Ellison – Food City, Dayton, TN

Gail Chapman – Food City, Red Bank, TN

Hina Patel – Food City, Lee Hwy., Chattanooga, TN

Paula Lahmers – Food City, Soddy Daisy, TN

Randy Wiliams – Food City, Georgetown Rd., Cleveland, TN

Hannah Winters – Fresh 'n Low, Cleveland, TN 

Kathryn Smith – Food City, McGrady Dr., Cleveland, TN

Josh Brock – Food City, Ocoee, TN

Karen Allen – Food City, Ooltewah-Ringgold, Ooltewah, TN

Kemper Rasnake – Food City, Bonham Rd., Bristol, VA

Crystal Cox – Food City, Weber City, VA

Sage Dresser  – Food City, Euclid Ave., Bristol, VA

Theresa Yates – Food City, Abingdon, VA

Samantha Tiller – Food City, Cedar Bluff, VA

Cayden Riddle – Food City, Vansant, VA

Barbara Brooks – Food City, Marion, VA

Trudy Cobler – Food City, Chilhowie, VA

Tyler Keen – Food City, Wytheville, VA

Lisa Jones – Food City, Bluefield, VA

Marc Williams – Food City, Radford, Va

Lisa Phillips – Food City, Pulaski, VA

Rebecca Winters – Food City, Damascus, VA

Nanette Rosie Gagnon – Food City, Galax, VA

Lucas Hodge – Food City, Independence, VA

Hannah Hayes – Food City, Big Stone Gap, VA

Lauren Ritchie – Food City, Clintwood, VA

Matthew Stansberry – Food City, Coeburn, VA

Virgil Hobbs  – Food City, Pennington Gap, VA

Waylon Ball – Super Dollar, Rose Hill, VA

Rosa Conley – Food City, St. Paul, VA

Jessica Byington – Food City, Wise, VA

Austin Gibson – Super Dollar, Pikeville, KY

Michael Stiltner – Super Dollar, Prestonsburg, KY

Clarissa Rogers – Super Dollar, Rogersville, TN

Andrea Thornsbury – Super Dollar, Grundy, VA

 

Store winners then move on to compete at district level. Twelve district winners are recognized with an award and a $250 contribution to their choice charity. Three divisional winners are then chosen and honored with a plaque and a $750 charity contribution. And finally, one overall winner is selected to receive the prestigious Claude P. Varney Humanitarian Award and be publicly recognized for their outstanding achievements in addition to a $1,250 charity contribution made on their behalf.  

“We’re extremely proud of the difference our associates make through their humanitarian contributions.  Our company is dedicated to the communities we serve and ensuring that our associates have the support they need to become the best corporate citizens possible,” said Smith.

 

Headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia, K-VA-T Food Stores (Food City’s parent company) operates 158 retail outlets throughout southeast Kentucky, southwest Virginia, east Tennessee, north Georgia, and Alabama.