Freehold Raceway Mall Store Feeds Pop Culture Fandom, Hungry At Same Time

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP, NJ — If you're shopping for that Darth Vader throw blanket to ward off that chill from the dark side, or the Game Of Thrones string of lights for your themed Christmas tree, there's a store that can fulfill those wants.

And while you're buying the funkiest items for the ultimate Star Trek fan, who just has to have the Spock and Kirk transporter salt-and-pepper shaker set, you can do something to help those in need in the community.

That's because BoxLunch, the company operating offering this fun slice of pop culture, also donates money to feed the needy.

BoxLunch calls itself a pop culture gift store with a cause. It offers "a thoughtfully curated selection of the world’s most popular licensed shirts, accessories, collectibles, beauty, home goods and gift and novelty merchandise for everyone from the most dedicated fan to the more casual pop culture enthusiast," according to a news release from the company.

Its civic mission is “Get Some. Give Back,” and to achieve that mission it provides a meal for every $10 spent in-store or online via its philanthropic partner Feeding America, and Feeding America's nationwide network of food banks, according to the news release.

That includes The Foodbank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, which will directly receive a percentage of the donations raised at the Freehold Raceway Mall BoxLunch, the release said.

“We are thrilled to open a BoxLunch in the Freehold community. Our mission is simple: sell the best product and use our business to inspire and implement solutions to help fight the hunger crisis on both a local and national level,” said Robert Thomsen, vice president and general manager of merchandising and marketing for BoxLunch.

The Freehold Raceway Mall location opened shortly before Thanksgiving and is one of 42 stores nationwide, the company said.

BoxLunch, a subsidiary of retailer Hot Topic Inc., launched in October 2015. Since its launch, the company's donations to Feeding America have paid for more than 2.1 million meals, according to its website.

To join the movement and help in the fight against hunger visit BoxLunch in-store or online at www.boxlunchgives.com to learn more on how you can get involved in your local community.

Photos provided by BoxLunch show the Freehold Raceway Mall store