Stop & Shop Donates $10,000 to Stony Brook University’s Food Pantry

Stony Brook University and Stop & Shop held a gift card donation ceremony, as funds from the donation will help fund the University’s food pantry for the upcoming school year. The pantry, which is celebrating its 10-year anniversary, serves the Stony Brook University community, and will be supported by a $10,000 donation from Stop & Shop that will enable the University to assist more students by purchasing the specific food items and other essential products.

In 2019, Stop & Shop launched the Stop & Shop School Food Pantry Program, which works directly with schools from Pre-K through college to establish and support their in-school food pantries. The Stop & Shop School Food Pantry Program was established to help limit barriers impacting students’ ability to succeed in the classroom by making sure that they have consistent access to food. Stop & Shop supports local schools’ existing food pantries or helps them establish a new one by providing gift card donations to help stock their shelves.

“Without access to healthy, nutritious food they need on a daily basis, students’ physical and mental health is at risk, which negatively impacts their path to earning a college degree,” says Stony Brook University President Maurie McInnis. “We are grateful to our valued and generous community partner, Stop & Shop, whose leadership through this $10,000 gift helps us ensure our students can thrive and succeed in college by addressing the barriers to academic success caused by food insecurity.”

Since 2020, Stony Brook University has seen a 110% increase in students using its food pantry, and the pantry has been combating food insecurity for the last decade, bringing access to as many students as possible. Not only that, but the food pantry strives to provide nutritious, well-balanced food choices - something that this donation will make easier. Additionally, proper nutrition is a contributing factor to students’ focus and concentration, helping them to achieve their higher education goals without having to worry about where their next meal is coming from.

“Stop & Shop is proud to support the efforts of Stony Brook University, because every student should have access to nutritious food and not worry about when their next meal will come,” said Daniel Wolk, External Communications Manager for Stop & Shop. “For the past 10 years, Stony Brook University’s Food Pantry has ensured its students receive the food they need. Students cannot thrive or reach their full potential inside or outside the classroom when they are hungry, and we are proud to support the University in ensuring they are fueled for success.”

Stop & Shop currently supports nearly 200 School Food Pantries across its five-state footprint. For more information about Stop & Shop’s School Food Pantry program, visit https://stopandshop.com/pages/school-food-pantry-program.