Local Dignitaries Help ShopRite Fight Hunger

The smiles on the faces of ShopRite of Rio Grande customers were brighter than usual on Wednesday, Sept. 19 as local community leaders and dignitaries bagged groceries at checkout for ShopRite’s ‘Help Bag Hunger’ day, an annual event that encourages donations to ShopRite Partners In Caring’s fight against hunger. In attendance were Middle Township Mayor Michael J. Clark; Middle Township Deputy Mayor Jeffrey DeVico; Bishop Charles A. Farrow of Bethel Commandment Church of the Living God of New Jersey in Whitesboro; and Director Sandra Lockhart, Administrator Terri Mascione and volunteers of The Branches Outreach Center in Rio Grande.
ShopRite Partners In Caring is a year-round, community-based, hunger-fighting initiative that works with more than 50 food industry manufacturers to provide $3 million annually to qualified charitable agencies in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maryland. Since its founding in 1999, ShopRite Partners In Caring has donated nearly $40 million to more than 1,700 charities.
Although ShopRite Partners In Caring is a year-round initiative, ShopRite holds this event every September in conjunction with National Hunger Awareness Month. Each year in September, ShopRite associates band together to raise help and hope for the hungry in a friendly competition that spans across the six states ShopRite stores operate in.
ShopRite of Rio Grande’s goal this year is to reach $10,000 in donations by the end of the month. As of Wednesday, Sept. 19, ShopRite of Rio Grande had reached around $7,800. In addition to ‘Help Bag Hunger’ day, asking for donations and rounding up change at checkout, ShopRite of Rio Grande’s fundraising efforts include a Beef & Beer which occurred Friday, Sept. 21, selling hot dogs and pretzels, a 50/50 and an upcoming bake sale.
This year’s theme for ‘Help Bag Hunger’ day was “20 Years of Good,” centered around ShopRite Partners In Caring celebrating 20 years of fighting hunger in the community.
‘Help Bag Hunger’ day could not be successful without ShopRite of Rio Grande Assistant Manager Janice DiGaetano, who continually shows her commitment to the fight against hunger year after year through her event planning and executing efforts. Janice has been with ShopRite of Rio Grande for 27 years, and has been coordinating ‘Help Bag Hunger’ day for 11 years.
To learn how you can join the hunger-fighting initiative, visit www.shopritepartnersincaring.org.