Where Does The Money Go When You ‘Round-Up’ at Minnesota Hy-Vees?

I visit Hy-Vee at least once, sometimes multiple times, a week, and I almost always opt for the self-checkout. Once I've scanned all my items and chosen my payment method, I get a prompt asking if I'd like to "round up" my purchase total - you've probably seen the same message.

Generally, I tap the yes button, assuming the additional amount is going to a charitable cause, but  I never really knew what happened to that money until today.

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I have no idea how many people actually "round up" at the cash register, but a ton of people shop at Hy-Vee which is located in several midwestern states including Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin.

Even if just a small percentage of customers contributing a few cents each time, the total donation amount collected would have to be quite large.

What Happens to Your 'Round-Up' Money at Minnesota Hy-Vees

Channel One Regional Food Bank offers assistance to around 45,000 people in southeast Minnesota and western Wisconsin and recently announced a massive donation from Hy-Vee.

That giant donation is from you - the customer. If you tapped yes to round up you helped Channel One in a BIG way.

How Much 'Round-Up' Money Was Donated?

Last week, Virginia Witherspoon Merritt, Channel One Regional Food Bank's executive director, announced her organization received a $115,000 donation!

Feeding America says there are nearly 400,000 people in Minnesota facing hunger - and of them 120,650 are children. Those are heartbreaking numbers, but thankfully, there are organizations like Channel One Regional Food Bank providing help.

Hy-Vee's 100 Million Meals Challenge started in March uses the "round up" funds and has distributed donations to 18 Feeding America member food banks across the Midwest.