VIDEO: Mets Star Surprises Lindenhurst Students As Stop & Shop Opens 100th NY School Pantry

LINDENHURST, NY — Stop & Shop officially opened the company’s 100th school food pantry in New York on Wednesday afternoon at William Rall Elementary School in Lindenhurst to support hundreds of local students and families facing food insecurity.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony unveiled the school’s new “William Rall Community Cupboard,” along with a $10,000 donation and a commercial refrigerator provided by Stop & Shop.

Representatives from the New York Mets, including former player José Reyes and mascots Mr. Met and Mrs. Met, joined students, staff and local officials for the celebration.

The Mets Citi Field Food Truck also distributed fresh produce to 100 local families as part of the initiative.

School officials said the pantry will provide students and families with access to snacks, meals, toiletries and other necessities in a stigma-free environment intended to remove barriers that can interfere with learning.

“We often say that our school is a second home for our students, but a home is more than just a place to learn. It is a place where you’re cared for, nourished and supported,” School Principal Farrah McKenna said. “We know that education doesn’t happen in a vacuum. For a student to solve a math problem or write an essay, their basic needs must be met first. When a child is hungry, the classroom feels a lot further away.”

The new pantry will provide dignity and support for families throughout the school community.

“This isn’t just about groceries,” McKenna said. “It’s about investing in the dignity, health and success of our entire William Rall community. This space is a judgment-free zone, a source of hope that shows we are here for our families, both inside and outside of our classrooms.”

The principal credited school staff members, community partners and Stop & Shop officials with helping transform the idea into reality, specifically thanking social worker Kathy Brodmerkle and other staff members who coordinated the project.

“Your funding did more than just buy supplies,” McKenna told Stop & Shop representatives. “It removed a barrier to learning and strengthened the foundation upon which our children will grow.”

Town of Babylon Rich Schaffer praised Stop & Shop’s longstanding partnership with the Town of Babylon and local schools.

“Stop & Shop has been a great partner here in the Town of Babylon,” Schaffer said. “During COVID, they were critical for helping us with all the people who needed assistance.”

Stop & Shop’s School Food Pantry Program, which launched in New York in 2019, has expanded statewide. The company now partners with more than 290 schools across five states and supports more than 45,000 students and families every month. The company has donated more than $3.75 million to schools across New York since the program began.

“We know that more and more families every day are struggling to put food on the table, and that is why we are incredibly proud of our Stop & Shop School Food Pantry program,” said Shannon Karafian, who leads the initiative for Stop & Shop. “School food pantries like this are so crucial. It’s a space where it is stigma-free, where families and students can come knowing there will be no judgment and they’re going to get the help that they need.”

School PTA President Kelly McNulty said that the pantry initiative began with a simple conversation with a student.

“This all started with a simple moment — a student asking Miss Brodmerkle for Goldfish,” McNulty said. “I remember saying, ‘There has to be something out there to help us with this.’”

McNulty said the idea quickly grew into a collaborative effort involving the school district, local organizations and community partners, which will now help community members for years.

“As parents, we all know life can get a little unpredictable, so having something like this in place brings a lot of comfort,” she said. “I love knowing our kids can grab what they need and keep their day going, and that families have a little extra support right here at school.”