Stop & Shop Donates $10,000 to Support Three Suffolk County Community College Food Pantries

With a new academic year about to begin, Stop & Shop today announced a $10,000 donation to Suffolk County Community College through its Stop & Shop School Food Pantry Program. The donation, provided through Stop & Shop gift cards, will support the college's three food pantries, helping students access nutritious food and other essentials so they can focus on their studies instead of worrying about where their next meal will come from.

Suffolk County Community College serves approximately 26,000 students across its three campuses, with nearly 37% of students receiving Pell Grants. The college's food pantries provide a safety net for students facing food insecurity, ensuring access to nutritious food and other essential resources when they need them most.

The college's commitment to addressing food insecurity stretches back decades. Suffolk County Community College operates food pantries at its Ammerman Campus in Selden, Michael J. Grant Campus in Brentwood, and Eastern Campus in Riverhead, providing students with access to food and other essential resources. The Brentwood pantry, located on the Michael J. Grant Campus, was the first college food pantry established in New York State and has been serving students since the 1970s.

The Stop & Shop School Food Pantry Program helps remove barriers that can impact students’ success in the classroom by ensuring consistent access to food. The program supports local schools by providing gift cards and cash donations to stock existing pantries or establish new ones.

“We are deeply grateful to Stop & Shop for this generous donation and for its commitment to supporting our students,” said Suffolk County Community College President Dr. Edward T. Bonahue. “Our food pantries provide an important resource for students facing food insecurity, and this support will help ensure that students across all three campuses have access to nutritious food and can remain focused on achieving their educational goals.”

“As students prepare to begin a new academic year, no one should have to worry about where their next meal will come from,” said Daniel Wolk, External Communications Manager for Stop & Shop. “Suffolk County Community College's food pantries provide an invaluable resource for students across Long Island, and we are proud to support their efforts through our School Food Pantry Program. This $10,000 donation will help ensure more students have access to the nutritious food they need to succeed both inside and outside the classroom.”

Stop & Shop’ School Food Pantry Program currently supports more than 290 schools across its five-state footprint, serving more than 49,000 students and families each month. In New York, Stop & Shop's School Food Pantry Program supports more than 120 schools, including 51 across Long Island, and plans to open several more during the 2026-27 school year. For more information about Stop & Shop’s School Food Pantry program, visit https://stopandshop.com/pages/school-food-pantry-program.