Long Island Cares Receives $70K Donation From Stop & Shop

HAUPPAUGE, NY — Long Island Cares, an island-wide food bank based in Hauppauge, received a $70,400 donation from Stop & Shop as part of the grocery chain's annual “Food for Friends” campaign, according to Long Island Cares.

“Long Island Cares is grateful for Stop & Shop’s 32nd Annual Food for Friends Campaign," said Katherine Fritz, chief development and communications officer at Long Island Cares. "This year their promotion was a record-breaking success, and with Stop & Shop’s commitment, this gift will help feed thousands of Long Island families. We are so grateful to all the Long Islanders who so generously made contributions to the cause of eliminating food insecurity on Long Island.”

Stop & Shop raised $1.2 million overall for its 12 regional food bank partners to combat summer hunger in the communities it serves, the supermarket announced.

Summer can be the hungriest time of year for kids, according to Stop & Shop.

"While families are able to rely on free or reduced-priced meals for children during the school [year], when school is out and children are at home, families have to buy more food, resulting in a rise in child hunger," Stop & Shop stated in a news release.

According to Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger relief network, 22 million kids across the United States rely on school meals. When schools close for the summer, school meal programs often close, too.

“When it comes to our Annual Food for Friends Campaign, the name says it all," said Stefanie Shuman, external communications manager at Stop & Shop. "Thanks to our generous customers and passionate associates, we are helping food banks like Long Island Cares feed so many Long Island residents in need."

Customers who shopped at Stop & Shop stores in June were asked if they would like to round up their total to the nearest dollar or donate an additional $1, $3, or $5, and Stop & Shop donated 100 percent of the funds raised to regional food banks across its footprint.

Unilever's Knorr brand also donated $10,000 and 5,000 rice and pasta sides to Feeding Westchester as part of its annual support of the campaign.

Funds raised during Stop & Shop’s Food for Friends campaign will benefit the following
food banks:

• The Greater Boston Food Bank
• Worcester County Food Bank
• The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts
• Rhode Island Community Food Bank
• Connecticut Foodshare
• Feeding Westchester
• Food Bank of the Hudson Valley
• Food Bank for New York City
• Community Foodbank of New Jersey
• Fulfill
• Island Harvest
• Long Island Cares

“This month-long campaign serves to renew hope for so many families that are currentlystruggling, allowing kids to enjoy a fun and healthy summer of play and time outdoorsrather than worrying about where their next meal will come from,” said Gordon Reid, president of Stop & Shop. “This program also shows the value of communities coming together to support one another, and Stop & Shop’s steadfast commitment to helping our food bank partners provide nutritious food to families in need.”