Winter Holidays

MINNEAPOLIS -- Cub Pharmacies, operated by Supervalu, Inc. here, donated 750 pre-paid, 60-minute calling cards to more than 4,000 Army National Guard troops at Camp Shelby, Miss., who are training for their March 2006 deployment to Southeast Asia.

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. -- The yearly Hope for the Holidays program held at Tops Markets, based here, and Martin's Super Food Stores has raised $114,751 for the Food Bank of Western New York and local Salvation Army units, store officials noted in a published report.

BOISE, Idaho -- This week the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation donated at check for $250,000 to the Idaho Guard and Reserve Family Support Fund at a ceremony at Gowen Field here, according to a report on a local television station's Web site.

DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Leading drugstore chain Walgreens here said yesterday its stores would be open Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to help last-minute holiday shoppers and anyone with health care product needs.

LUBBOCK, Texas -- Texas retailer United Supermarkets here is introducing several new services that its said will save shoppers time and gas money, just in time for the holiday shopping rush.

KEENE, N.H. -- C&S Wholesale Grocers and its associates have joined with almost two dozen statewide and regional food banks to donate turkeys, providing thousands of needy families with holiday meal.

COLTON, Calif. -- Stater Bros. Supermarkets here has formed a partnership with Hormel Foods to help provide meals for needy families this holiday season, with donations that will feed 13,248 individuals in need and help provide meals for thousands of families at risk of hunger.

LOS ANGELES -- Tomorrow, Santa and Ms. Claus will make special pre-Christmas visits to inner-city schools and shelters here via a Presidential-style motorcade bearing holiday cheer, food, and gifts, courtesy of the Kroger-owned Ralphs Grocery Co. and other local and national companies.