Meijer LPGA Classic Kicks Off Tournament Week Highlighting the Meijer Simply Give Hunger Relief Program's Overall Mission

By Emilie Meyer 

 

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Tournament week has officially arrived for the 2026 Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give, and the tournament’s commitment to serving the community remains as strong as ever. That mission was showcased on Monday, during a visit to the North End Community Ministry in the heart of Grand Rapids, where the Meijer Simply Give mission continues to make a meaningful difference for local families facing food insecurity.  

 

Since its start in 2008, the Meijer Simply Give hunger relief program runs year-round to help keep food pantry shelves stocked no matter the season through partnering with local Meijer stores across the Midwest. Thanks to the generosity and support of Meijer customers, team members, and food pantry partners, the signature program has generated more than $100 million to support hunger relief efforts. North End Community Ministry is one of more than 400 local food pantries that benefit from the Meijer Simply Give hunger relief program.  

 

As a kickoff to tournament week, golf legend and LPGA Hall of Famer, Juli Inkster, visited North End Community Ministry to get a tour of the pantry and learn more about the organization’s mission to serve children, families, and individuals in need on the North End of Grand Rapids.  

 

During the visit, Juli met with Laura Castle, Executive Director of North End Community Ministry, volunteers, and Doug Meijer, co-chairman of Meijer. Castle led the group on a tour of the pantry, explaining how the nonprofit functions and serves the community, while expressing her sincere gratitude to Meijer for making the work they do possible.  

 

North End Community Ministry is an Ecumenical Community Service Center with a ministry of caring and compassionate service to children, families, and individuals in need. Some of their programs and services include: Client Choice Food Pantry, Leonard Terrace Food Pantry, NE Supper House, classes, and Holiday Food Baskets.  

 

“We’ve been in the ministry for 55 years, it’s been a long time,” said Laura Castle, Executive Director of North End Community Ministry. “We serve about 750 people a month.”   

 

Castle emphasized the significant role that Simply Give plays in helping the nonprofit fulfill its mission.  

 

“We rely so heavily on Simply Give,” Castle said about the impact of the Meijer Simply Give hunger relief program. “I don’t know what we would do without the support of Meijer. It was only because of Meijer that we were able to keep our shelves stocked.”  

 

The visit was an important reminder of the greater purpose behind the Meijer LPGA Classic. Beyond elite competition, the tournament is committed to making a positive impact in the community and supporting hunger relief efforts. 

 

“We feel that people should have a basic right to food. That’s our mantra here,” Castle said.