ShopRite Fights Hunger with Help from Local Dignitaries

The smiles on the faces of ShopRite of Rio Grande customers were brighter than usual on Wednesday, Sept. 21 as local community leaders and dignitaries bagged groceries at checkout for ShopRite’s ‘Bag for Hunger’ day, an annual event that encourages donations to ShopRite Partners In Caring’s fight against hunger. In attendance were Pastor Charles A. Farrow, Middle Township Mayor Michael J. Clark, Skip and Bonnie Millard from Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in the Villas, and Cape May County Freeholder candidate Dan Kurkowski and supporter Kit Marlowe.
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. This year’s challenge is to raise $1.5 million, a milestone goal, to support food banks in the communities ShopRite serves. To help reach this goal, in addition to dignitaries bagging groceries, ShopRite is asking its customers for monetary donations at checkout. Sponsored by ShopRite and General Mills, the ShopRite Partners In Caring contest has resulted in donations totaling $40 million since its start in 1999.
ShopRite of Rio Grande’s personal goal this year is to reach $10,000 by Oct. 1. As of Wednesday, Sept. 21, ShopRite of Rio Grande had reached around $5,000, hitting the halfway mark. In addition to ‘Bag for Hunger’ day and asking for donations at checkout, ShopRite of Rio Grande’s fundraising efforts also include a recent Beef & Beer on Friday, Sept. 23 at Menz Restaurant & Bar, and an upcoming bowling party on Friday, Sept. 30.
This year’s theme for ShopRite of Rio Grande’s ‘Bag for Hunger’ day was “Watch the Tramcar please, we are on our way to the local food bank!” to tie into our local shore community. A large Tramcar display was created by one of ShopRite of Rio Grande’s very own employees.
‘Bag for 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 25 years, and has been coordinating ‘Bag for Hunger’ day for nine years.
To learn how you can join the hunger-fighting initiative, visit www.shopritepartnersincaring.org.