Stop & Shop announced that its 30th annual Food for Friends campaign raised more than $1.3 million to support the COVID-19 response efforts of food banks across the Northeast including Island Harvest and Long Island Cares-The Harry Chapin Food Bank. In March, Stop & Shop also announced a $1 million donation to support these regional food bank partners as they help those struggling with immediate hunger needs and food insecurity during the pandemic.
Stop & Shop’s Food for Friends campaign is an annual summer donation program where customers at Stop & Shop stores are able to donate at checkout to support hunger relief. To help its food bank partners in this time of unprecedented need, Stop & Shop shifted the timeframe of the campaign to run throughout the month of May. Customers using self-checkout registers were asked if they would like to round up their total to the nearest dollar, and Stop & Shop donated 100% of the change to regional food banks across its footprint.
“We’re very grateful for the overwhelming generosity of our customers to help us support our food bank partners in their important work to provide food to individuals and families during this pandemic,” shares Gordon Reid, President of Stop & Shop. “The response from our customers shows that any size contribution can add up to make a meaningful impact in our communities.”
Island Harvest
“On behalf of the food-insecure people we serve every day, we are grateful to Stop & Shop for their continued support of Island Harvest Food Bank through the Food for Friends program,” said Randi Shubin Dresner, president, and CEO, Island Harvest Food Bank. “Stop & Shop is an indispensable partner in addressing the critical issue of food insecurity in our communities through its numerous hunger-relief and nutrition education initiatives.”
Long Island Cares- The Harry Chapin Food Bank
“Long Island Cares-The Harry Chapin Food Bank and Stop and Shop have been collaborating together to feed the hungry on Long Island for many years. Their extremely generous support has enabled the regional food bank to expand our direct service programs for children in need, and families struggling with food insecurity. Because of Stop and Shop, Long Island Cares has been able to respond to an unprecedented need for emergency food assistance in direct response to Covid-19 which has enable us to assist nearly 50,000 of our neighbors in need.”
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Stop & Shop’s Food for Friends campaign, in addition to Island Harvest and Long Island Cares- The Harry Chapin Food Bank the funds raised will benefit the following food banks:
- Food Bank for NYC
- Community Foodbank of NJ
- Fulfill
- Connecticut Food Bank
- Feeding Westchester
- Food Bank of the Hudson Valley
For more information on Stop & Shop’s programs to support local communities, visit https://stopandshop.com/community.
