Local women make the big time—on a cereal box

ShopRite marked the 10th anniversary of its community-based hunger-fighting charity, ShopRite Partners In Caring, by honoring individuals who raise awareness and funds to fight hunger in their local communities.
Lorrie Somoza of West Wildwood and Peggy Abadie of North Cape May were among the ShopRite associates honored by being featured on 125,000 limited-edition Cheerios boxes for their store’s commitment to fighting hunger in their local community through the ShopRite Partners In Caring program.
Orien Reid, a longtime TV news personality in Philadelphia, and now spokesperson for ShopRite presented the awards at a ceremony inside Rio Grande ShopRite March 31.
“Many of us can be just one paycheck away from standing in a food line,” Reid told the audience assembled inside the main doors, just in front of ShopRite’s massive produce section.
“No one should have to make a decision between their medicine or food; between paying their utility bill or food,” she continued.
Reid went on to explain that ShopRite donates $2 million a year to food banks. The funds go on account in the community agency’s name. Agencies that benefit from those dollars include food cupboards, after school programs, or senior centers, etc. Over the last 10 years, ShopRite has donated a total of $20 million to fight hunger.
“At a cost of about 16 cents per pound of food,” Reid said, “that’s quite a bit.
“There are about 13 million children in soup lines in this country,” Reid noted. “That’s why this program is so important.”
Rose Hall, relations manager for the Community Food Bank, 6735 Black Horse Pike in Egg Harbor Township, presented Somoza and Abadie with T-shirts and spoke to the crowd, explaining that about 1,600 people a month come to her organization for food.
“Partners in Caring is a blessing,” she said. “They made it possible for us to have food, and there is never a fee for those who come to us.”
Somoza, now in her ninth year at ShopRite, was recognized for reaching out to local merchants.
“Our manager, Diane Pace, had the idea,” said Somoza. “We put a brochure together, then went to local businesses. Many took out ads in the brochure, and some just gave donations. The money went to the food bank.”
Abadie, a 13-year ShopRite veteran, sold pretzels at the front door.
“And when I was done there,” she said, “I would sell throughout the store to the customers as they shopped. Pretzels are a great fundraiser.”
The two Cape May Countians now have their picture on a special-edition Cheerios box, since ShopRite of Rio Grande took a top spot out of 30 winning stores in a contest sponsored by ShopRite and General Mills in support of National Hunger Action Month in September.
A special issue laminated version of the box was presented to each hero.
In marking the anniversary of the program, ShopRite teamed up with General Mills in a “10 Years – 10 Heroes” contest, a search for 10 local heroes—five children and five adults—who actively engage in the fight against hunger.
The “10 Years – 10 Heroes” contest recognized people who devote time, money, and energy to help battle hunger.
The 10 heroes were selected based on their participation in activities to raise funds or collect food, the spirit in which the activities were conducted and the results achieved.
The New Jersey winners are: Jacquelyn Broadfoot of Bloomfield; Daniel A. Galligan of Old Bridge; Stanley Serdakowski of Gladstone; Gabriela, Stephanie, and Stephen Toledo of Randolph.
Other winners included: Joanne Chadziewicz of Plainville, CT; Bill Pere of Mystic, CT; George Karp of Mamaroneck, NY; and Payton Sinkbeil of Pottstown, PA.
The 10 local heroes, alongside 61 ShopRite associates, are featured on the front panel of a limited-edition Cheerios box—the eighth in a series—which will be on shelves this spring exclusively at ShopRite stores.
ShopRite associates raised more than $290,000 during a two-week contest by offering $1 donation cards to customers at checkout, constructing displays to bring awareness to the issue of hunger, and holding in-store events to support the cause.
General Mills donated an additional $20,000 to the ShopRite Partners In Caring Fund, a component fund of the Community Foundation of New Jersey.
Jim Fitzgibbons, local retail sales rep for General Mills was also on hand for the in-store proceedings.
“It’s amazing how hard some of these people work to help others,” he said. “We’re very proud to be involved with members of the community like this.”