Stop & Shop Donates $15,000 in Gift Cards to Help PS45Q

PS45Q Social Worker, Sasianna McIntosh; Devin McBarnette, the Student in Temporary Housing Coordinator for PS45Q and Jennifer Brogan, Director of External Communications and Community Relations for Stop & Shop at the ribbon cutting of PS45Q’s in-school food pantry supported by a Stop & Shop donation of $15,000 in gift cards.

Stop & Shop has donated $15,000 in gift cards to enable the Clarence E. Witherspoon School, PS45Q, located at 126-28 150 Street in Ozone Park, Queens to open an in-school food pantry to meet the needs of the 330 3-K through fifth grade students.

PS45Q is a Title 1 school, which means it has a high percentage of children from low-income households. Devin McBarnette, the Student in Temporary Housing Coordinator says more than 50 students live in area shelters or are in households that are doubled up, which means they and their family live in the homes of extended family or friends.

“The PS45Q community is most appreciative of Stop & Shop’s generosity and support,” said McBarnette. “The CWS Community Food Pantry will allow us to provide nutritious and balanced meals to our underserved population, while opening a pathway to increased parent and family engagement.”

Beneficiaries of the food pantry will be able to pick up groceries every two weeks. The pantry will provide proteins, such as, chicken and ground beef with side dishes including spaghetti, macaroni, rice, string beans and other vegetables. The school’s goal is to serve 100 families a month.

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.

“This in-school pantry will ensure that families at PS45Q will have access to nutritious meals and necessary protein options,” said Stop & Shop Communications Manager, Stefanie Shuman. “Students cannot learn when they are hungry, and we are proud to support Mr. McBarnette and the school in ensuring students are fueled for success.”

Stop & Shop currently supports more than 50 School Food Pantries across its five-state footprint. Across the city, there are four in Queens, one on Staten Island, and several more to open across the boroughs in 2022. For more information about Stop & Shop’s School Food Pantry program, visit https://stopandshop.com/pages/school-food-pantry-program.