Stop & Shop’s Food for Friends Campaign Raises More Than $1.3M

Money Raised Will Benefit Regional Food Banks in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut

Today Stop & Shop announced that its 30th annual Food for Friends campaign raised more than $1.3 million to support the COVID-19 response efforts of food banks in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. In March, Stop & Shop also announced a $1 million donation to support these regional food bank partners as they help those struggling with immediate hunger needs and food insecurity during the pandemic.

Stop & Shop’s Food for Friends campaign is an annual summer donation program where customers at Stop & Shop stores are able to donate at checkout to support hunger relief. To help its food bank partners in this time of unprecedented need, Stop & Shop shifted the timeframe of the campaign to run throughout the month of May. Customers using self-checkout registers were asked if they would like to round up their total to the nearest dollar, and Stop & Shop donated 100% of the change to regional food banks across its footprint.

“We’re very grateful for the overwhelming generosity of our customers to help us support our food bank partners in their important work to provide food to individuals and families during this pandemic,” shares Gordon Reid, President of Stop & Shop. “The response from our customers shows that any size contribution can add up to make a meaningful impact in our communities.”

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Stop & Shop’s Food for Friends campaign, and the funds raised will benefit the following food banks:

○ Food Bank for NYC

○ Community Foodbank of NJ

○ Fulfill

○ Connecticut Food Bank

○ Feeding Westchester

○ Food Bank of the Hudson Valley

○ Island Harvest

○ Long Island Cares

Food Bank for NYC

“As longtime supporters in the fight to end hunger, we are so thankful for Stop & Shop’s continuing efforts to support Food Bank For New York City during this critical time,” said Janis Robinson, vice president of institutions and partnerships at Food Bank For New York City. “Through their Food For Friends round up campaign, they will help us meet the growing need to deliver healthy, nutritious meals to our vulnerable neighbors across the five boroughs during the summer months, when families need it most.”

Community Foodbank of NJ

"I am overwhelmed by the support that CFBNJ has received for our pandemic response efforts, especially from Stop & Shop and its generous customers," said Carlos Rodriguez, President & CEO of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. "The funds generated by the Food for Friends campaign will allow us to remain nimble in line with the changing needs of our communities as we work to provide more nutritious food than ever before."

Fulfill

"The success of Stop & Shop's Food for Friends Program will provide 117,000 meals to people in need in Monmouth and Ocean Counties! During a time when Fulfill needs help more than ever - with a 40% spike in the demand for food since the pandemic hit - we truly appreciate the support! Thank you to Stop & Shop, and of course, our sincerest appreciation to all of its customers for donating to Fulfill during this crisis," said Fulfill CEO and President Kim Guadagno, the former Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey.

Connecticut Food Bank

“We are grateful to Stop & Shop stores and to their generous customers for helping people in need,” said Connecticut Food Bank spokesperson Paul Shipman. “Food for Friends will help us reach thousands of households with the food they need during these challenging times.”

Feeding Westchester

“At a time when the crisis completely changed how supermarkets did business, Stop & Shop didn’t forget about us,” says Matt Honeycutt, VP, Feeding Westchester. “At a time when some of their customers were struggling or out of work, they didn’t forget about our hungry neighbors in need. This generous gift will help provide more than 200,000 nutritious meals to many worried about feeding their families for the very first time.”

Food Bank Hudson Valley

“We are so grateful to Stop & Shop for their generous support, especially during these unprecedented times,” said Paul A. Stermer, Director of the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley. “We are fortunate to be part of a community filled with individuals and organizations who understand that we are all in this together.”

Island Harvest

“On behalf of the food-insecure people we serve every day, we are grateful to Stop & Shop for their continued support of Island Harvest Food Bank through the Food for Friends program,” said Randi Shubin Dresner, president, and CEO, Island Harvest Food Bank. “Stop & Shop is an indispensable partner in addressing the critical issue of food insecurity in our communities through its numerous hunger-relief and nutrition education initiatives.”

Long Island Cares- The Harry Chapin Food Bank

“Long Island Cares-The Harry Chapin Food Bank and Stop and Shop have been collaborating together to feed the hungry on Long Island for many years. Their extremely generous support has enabled the regional food bank to expand our direct service programs for children in need, and families struggling with food insecurity. Because of Stop and Shop, Long Island Cares has been able to respond to an unprecedented need for emergency food assistance in direct response to Covid-19 which has enable us to assist nearly 50,000 of our neighbors in need.”

For more information on Stop & Shop’s programs to support local communities, visit https://stopandshop.com/community/.