Shoprite, Catholic Charities Launch 'Feed Our Neighbors' Campaign in the Hudson Valley

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Remember to pick up a couple of extra nonperishable food items when you're grocery shopping for the next 11 days and hand it over at checkout, because Catholic Charities Community Services and ShopRite Supermarkets in in Dutchess, Orange, Sullivan, Westchester, and Ulster counties have teamed up once again for the archdiocesan-wide Feeding Our Neighbors campaign.

Many of ShopRite’s stores in the Hudson Valley are participating in the annual mid-winter drive to raise food and funds to replenish food pantries throughout the Archdiocese of New York. It launched Sunday.

The stores are coordinating Point of Sale collections through Feb. 4.

What that means is that at checkout, shoppers will be asked to make donations of cash or non-perishable food to the annual food drive.

“We are extremely grateful for the ongoing support from ShopRite and their customers,” said Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, Executive Director of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York. “The donations they make to Feeding Our Neighbors come at a time when food pantries are struggling to keep their shelves stocked and clients fed. Both the food collected and the funds raised will go a long way in helping local food pantries and soup kitchens replenish their inventory and feed our hungry neighbors.”

This is ShopRite’s third year participating in the Feeding Our Neighbors campaign. In the first two years, ShopRite collected more than $218,000 and 24,000 pounds of non-perishable food through the generosity of donations from ShopRite customers.

Last year, Feeding Our Neighbors donations from throughout the Archdiocese of New York raised the equivalent of more than 1.5 million meals. The donations were distributed to food pantries, soup kitchens, and other anti-poverty programs throughout the Archdiocese. This year, in recognition of their Centennial celebration, Catholic Charities hopes to raise the equivalent of 2 million meals through the annual Feeding Our Neighbors campaign.

“ShopRite is extremely fortunate to have both staff and customers that embrace our commitment to give back to the community,” said Tom Urtz, ShopRite’s Vice President of Operations. “After the holiday season, food pantry supplies are low and donations drop off significantly, but the need remains high. Feeding Our Neighbors helps restock the shelves at a critical time. Our stores get firmly behind this initiative and enjoy a little friendly competition to keep everyone on their toes and motivated to make this a successful campaign for the good of our friends and neighbors in need,” added Urtz.

The 2017 Feeding Our Neighbors campaign kicked-off with a press conference at ShopRite’s Greenway Plaza store in Yonkers Tuesday. Catholic Charities and ShopRite leadership joined with elected officials, including Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, Father Jose Felix Ortega of St. Peter’s Parish in Yonkers, as well as other local officials and clergy, store employees, and customers to launch the food drive and bring attention to issues of hunger throughout the region.

While the Feeding Our Neighbors campaign takes place just two weeks each year, the need to feed the hungry lasts all year long. For more information about making a donation of cash or food, contact your local food pantry, Catholic Charities office, or visit www.catholiccharitiesny.org.

PHOTO: ShopRite Supermarkets and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York kicked-off Catholic Charities’ 2017 Feeding Our Neighbors campaign at ShopRite’s Greenway Plaza store in Yonkers. This is ShopRite’s third year supporting the annual food drive to restock food pantries at a time when supplies and donations are traditionally low. Pictured are Store Manager Jerry Galella; Msgr. Kevin Sullivan, Executive Director of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York; Tom Urtz, Vice President of Operations, ShopRite; Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano: Corazon Pineda Isaac, Yonkers City Councilmember; and Fr. Jose Felix Ortega, Pastor of St. Peter’s Parish in Yonkers./ contributed