Point Pleasant, New Jersey, June 15, 2020 – A check for $80,668.03 was presented to the Fulfill FoodBank team at Stop & Shop in Point Pleasant on Thursday. The donations were raised from customers at checkout during Stop & Shop’s Food for Friends campaign.
During the annual company-wide donation program, customers were able to donate at checkout to support hunger relief in their communities. To help regional food bank partners in this time of unprecedented need, customers rounded-up their purchase to the nearest dollar and donated the change, or made a $1, $3 or $5 contribution. Stop & Shop donated 100 percent of the funds raised to its regional food bank partners. At the Jersey Shore, the recipient was Fulfill.
“Fulfill is grateful to Stop & Shop for selecting us as a recipient in its Food for Friends Campaign. Thank you to all the customers for their generosity and compassion. Families, children, seniors, and veterans will have nutritious food and comfort because of their kindness,” said Board Chair Lauren Holman.
“Our Monmouth and Ocean County stores, and their customers, are committed to the fight against hunger,” said Stefanie Shuman, Community Relations Manager for Stop & Shop stores in New Jersey. “We’re so proud to be able to support Fulfill in this capacity and make a difference in the lives of Jersey Shore residents in need.”
In Monmouth and Ocean Counties, 14 Stop & Shop stores participated in this year’s campaign that ran from April 30th through May 31st. The Stop & Shop in Point Pleasant was selected for the check presentation as it brought in the most donations.
In addition to their Food for Friends campaign, Stop & Shop is a top Fulfill supporter providing more than $80,000 annually in grant funding for Kids Feeding programs. Stop & Shop also provides 1,000 turkeys during the holiday season to distribute to families in need. Recently, Stop & Shop also brought their pharmacy staff on site to Fulfill’s weekly food distribution to administer the Covid-19 vaccine to clients who wanted it.
About Fulfill FoodBank
Pre-pandemic, Fulfill was feeding 136,000 people, including 50,000 children. Today, Fulfill is feeding 215,000 people, including 70,000 children. Fulfill has served 3.5 million more meals since the coronavirus crisis affected the Jersey Shore, and the demand for food has increased 40 percent with no near end in sight.
Fulfill has been providing food for families at the Jersey Shore for more than thirty years. Fulfill made sure our neighbors had nourishment during economic storms, Superstorm Sandy, and now the pandemic. Fulfill feeds children, seniors, veterans, and the working poor. Fulfill supplies food to nearly three hundred feeding agencies including pantries, shelters, and soup kitchens. Fulfill also provides hot meals for children after school and sends food home for those same children over the weekend.
Fulfill has earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for more than ten consecutive years. This distinction means Fulfill, a 501 (c)3 charitable organization, outperformed most charities in America in areas of efficiency, fiscal integrity, and effectiveness. In fact, 95 cents of every dollar donated to Fulfill goes directly to feeding the hungry in our community. Follow Fulfill on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube, and share our posts to help raise awareness about hunger. To donate or volunteer, go to fulfillnj.org.
About Stop & Shop
A neighborhood grocer for more than 100 years, Stop & Shop offers a wide assortment with a focus on fresh, healthy options at a great value. Stop & Shop’s GO Rewards loyalty program delivers personalized offers and allows customers to earn points that can be redeemed for gas or groceries every time they shop. Stop & Shop customers can choose how and where they want to shop – whether in-store or online for delivery or same-day pickup. The company is committed to making an impact in its communities by fighting hunger, supporting our troops, and investing in pediatric cancer research to help find a cure. The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC is an Ahold Delhaize USA Company and employs 58,000 associates and operates more than 400 stores throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, and New Jersey. To learn more about Stop & Shop, visit www.stopandshop.com.