Food City is well-known for their superior customer service and vast community involvement within their operational areas.  In keeping with their exemplary service standards, each year Food City recognizes outstanding volunteerism among their associates through 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 the team,” stated 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 as a whole, but was most noted for his tremendous compassion and humanitarian services. 

“Many of our associates volunteer their time and talents to numerous service organizations throughout the areas in which we operate and we feel it’s needful 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:

Area Store Winners
Food City 206  Rossville, GA – John Gadd
Food City 215  Blairsville, GA – Robert Matthew Lowery
Food City 217  Rossville, GA – Ralph Arp
Food City 230  Chatsworth, GA – Jean Cantrell
Food City 233  Trenton, GA – Caitlin Walsh
Food City 239  Dalton, GA – Amber Grindle
Food City 249  Fort Oglethorpe, GA – Comer "Keith" Bobo
Food City 252  LaFayette, GA – Kalei Taylor
Food City 424  Paintsville, KY – Kathren Tackett
Food City 425  Williamson, KY – Virginia Pearl McKinney
Food City 433  Louisa, KY – Kumi Collinsworth
Food City 436  Whitesburg, KY – Sandra Cook
Food City 437  Harlan, KY – Edna Michelle Brock
Food City 438  Hazard, KY – Lisa Cox
Food City 458  Pikeville, KY – Shirley Hall
Food City 468  Cumberland, KY – Wade Hall
Food City 471  Prestonsburg, KY – Jordan Carroll
Food City 475  Shelbiana, KY – Cynthia Williams
Food City 601  S. Roan St., Johnson City, TN – Mark Hodges
Food City 602  East Morris Blvd, Morristown, TN – Chris Milligan
Food City 603  Church Hill, TN – Sarah Beth Woolridgel
Food City 604  Eastern Plaza, Newport, TN – Rebekah Fraley
Food City 605  Eastman Rd. Kingsport, TN – Melissa Slaughter
Food City 606  Snaps Ferry Rd., Greeneville, TN – John Laster
Food City 607  Sandstone Drive, Morristown, TN – Terri Daugherty
Food City 608  Asheville Hwy., Greeneville, TN – Channing Taylor
Food City 609  Kodak, TN – Geraldine Lee
Food City 610  Pigeon Forge, TN – Juanita" Tootsie" Maples
Food City 611  Gatlinburg, TN – Blake Cubberley
Food City 612  Rogersville, TN – Debbie Martin
Food City 614  Western Plaza, Newport, TN – Francis Standifer
Food City 615  Jefferson City, TN – Phillip Drinnon
Food City 616  Hardin Valley, Knoxville, TN – Lauren Blevins
Food City 617  Volunteer Parkway, Bristol, TN – James W. Camper
Food City 618  White Pine, TN – Jessica Burchfield
Food City 619  Blaine, TN – Sarah Fennell
Food City 620  Vonore, TN – Dawn Bearlepp
Food City 622  Virginia Ave, Bristol, TN – Matthew Kegley
Food City 626  Alcoa, TN – Jessica Cunningham
Food City 629  State of Franklin, Johnson City, TN – Dakota Whistine
Food City 630  Dandridge, TN – Abbie Reed
Food City 631  Elizabethton, TN – Ben Williams
Food City 632  Loudon, TN – Debbie Wilson
Food City 634  Harriman, TN – Keyona Dickens
Food City 640  Jonesborough, TN – Tim Wisecarver
Food City 641  Boones Creek, TN – Andrew Labonte
Food City 642  Oliver Springs, TN – Teresa Hall
Food City 644  Seymour, TN – Mary Lafollete
Food City 645  New Tazewell, TN – Holly Miracle
Food City 646  Cool Springs Rd, Morristown, TN – Lloyd Etter
Food City 647  East Broadway, Maryville, TN – Luann Stewart
Food City 650  Lenoir City, TN – Michael Cooper
Food City 651  West Broadway, Maryville, TN – Alvin Bain
Food City 653  Kingston, TN – Emily Clark
Food City 654  Clinton, TN – Angie Harmon
Food City 655  Strawberry Plains, TN – Beth Dunn
Food City 656  Crossville, TN – David Gifford
Food City 657  Clinchfield St., Kingsport, TN – George Toncray
Food City 661  LaFollette, TN – Ron Cole
Food City 662  Fairfield Glade/Crossville, TN – Howard Robb
Food City 663  E. Andrew Johnson Hwy, Greeneville, TN – Tyler Morris
Food City 664  Colonial Heights, TN – Terry Lane
Food City 667  Seveirville, TN – Judy Parrott
Food City 669  Blountville, TN – Cay R. McConnell
Food City 672  Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, TN – Janie Grigsby
Food City 673  North Broadway, Knoxville, TN – Teri Lynn Lott
Food City 674  Bearden Center, Knoxville, TN – Faith L. Hughes
Food City 676  College Homes, Knoxville, TN – Becky Siedler
Food City 677  Clinton Hwy., Knoxville, TN – Rosline Waller
Food City 679  Powell Center, Knoxville, TN – Mona Napier
Food City 680  Maynardville, TN – Austin Branson
Food City 681  Oak Ridge, TN – Jake Witt
Food City 682  Chapman Highway, Knoxville, TN – Jacob Hendrck
Food City 685  Fountain City, Knoxville, TN – Peggy Reagan
Food City 687  Millertown Pike, Knoxville, TN – Abigail Wyatt
Food City 688  Halls Center, Knoxville, TN – Autumn Brooks
Food City 694  Deane Hill, Knoxville, TN – Jim Ingram
Food City 699  Piney Flats, TN – Shawna Pierce
Food City 701  Chattanooga, TN – Maygen Gaddis
Food City 703  Hixson, TN – Austin Waldo
Food City 705  Chattanooga, TN – Kristopher Morgan
Food City 710  East Ridge, TN – Justin Pease
Food City 712  Cleveland, TN – Ellen Sue Cofer
Food City 713  Hixson, TN – Edward Barnes
Food City 714  East Ridge, TN – Tameisha Moore
Food City 715  Chattanooga, TN – Chris Anderson
Food City 716  Chattanooga, TN – Alexis Lewis
Food City 717  Harrison, TN – Joycelyn Conyers
Food City 724  Dayton, TN – J Rajsah Pankey
Food City 726  Chattanooga, TN – Haven Reynolds
Food City 727  Red Bank, TN – Karen Reid
Food City 735  Chattanooga, TN – Melgie Smith
Food City 743  Cleveland, TN – Mitchell Cochran
Food City 747  Etowah, TN – Russell Lloyd
Food City 773  Ooltewah, TN – Eddie Vaugh
Food City 774  Ooltewah, TN – D.J. Loveridge
Food City 816  Bonham Rd., Bristol, VA – Katie Barker
Food City 820  Weber City, VA – Jan Dingus
Food City 821  Euclid Ave., Bristol, VA – Mark Thomas
Food City 823  Abingdon, VA – Randy Sheets
Food City 827  Richlands, VA – Hannah Burks
Food City 839  Vansant, VA – Matt Baker
Food City 848  Marion, VA – Walker May
Food City 849  Chilhowie, VA – Dolynda Steffey
Food City 852  Bluefield, VA – Keith Sheets
Food City 859  Pulaski, VA – Charles D Church
Food City 860  Damascus, VA – Amanda Mullins
Food City 865  Galax, VA – Larae Hall
Food City 866  Independence, VA – Frank Page
Food City 890  Lebanon, VA – Hannah Long
Food City 891  Big Stone Gap, VA – Dustin Franklin
Food City 892  Clintwood, VA – Shelia Cox
Food City 893  Coeburn, VA – Anthony Combs
Food City 895  Pennington Gap, VA – Cindy Thompson
Food City 897  St. Paul, VA – James Walker Long
Food City 898  Wise, VA – Brenda Johnson
Super Dollar 2407  Barbourville, KY – Michael Mayo
Super Dollar 2446 Super Dollar Pikeville, KY – Brent Deboard
Super Dollar 2457 Super Dollar Prestonsburg, KY – Brandi Frasure
Super Dollar 2619  Rogersville, TN – Kennedy Margetjak
Super Dollar 2801  Wytheville, VA – Lindsay Sizemore
Super Dollar 2803  Abingdon, VA – Lauren Campbell
Super Dollar 2805  Vinton, VA – Ashley King
Super Dollar 2843 Super Dollar Grundy, VA – James Anthony Scott
Super Dollar 896  Rose Hill, VA – Ashley Matlock


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 during a special corporate luncheon.  Two 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 many humanitarian contributions.  Our company is wholly committed to providing exceptional service to the citizens and communities in which we operate and ensuring our associates have the support they need to become the best corporate citizens possible,” summarized Smith.

Headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia, K-VA-T Food Stores (Food City’s parent company) operates 135 retail outlets throughout southeast Kentucky, southwest Virginia, east Tennessee, Chattanooga and north Georgia.