Catholic Charities and ShopRite Supermarkets Partner To Feed Hungry Families in Hudson Valley
2018 Feeding Our Neighbors Campaign Raised Equivalent of 421,000 Meals
HUDSON VALLEY, NY – ShopRite Supermarkets donated $96,500 to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York in support of the supermarket chain’s participation in the annual Archdiocesan-wide Feeding Our Neighbors food drive in its Hudson Valley market area.
ShopRite President Brett Wing and Tom Urtz, Vice President of Operations, were joined by ShopRite employees from throughout the region to present the donation to Bishop Dominick Lagonegro and Msgr. Kevin Sullivan, Executive Director, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, at the annual Catholic Charities Community Services of Orange and Sullivan’s Celebration of Charity dinner.
ShopRite’s 28 stores in the Hudson Valley participated in the annual mid-winter drive to raise food and funds to replenish food pantries throughout the Archdiocese of New York, which includes Dutchess, Orange, Ulster, Sullivan, and Westchester Counties. The funds were raised through customers’ cash donations at check-out. Additionally, nearly 35,000 pounds of non-perishable food items were donated by customers at participating ShopRite stores. In all, the donation from ShopRite and its customers totaled the equivalent of 421,000 meals.
“We are so very fortunate that ShopRite, their employees, and customers embrace a commitment to giving back to the community in which they live and work,” said Msgr. Sullivan. “They are outstanding community partners whose generosity makes a positive difference in the lives of others. The donations made to Feeding Our Neighbors come at a time when food pantries are struggling to keep their shelves stocked and clients fed. Both the food collected and the funds raised will go a long way in feeding our hungry neighbors.”
This is ShopRite’s fourth year participating in the Feeding Our Neighbors campaign. To date, ShopRite has collected more than $405,000 and more than 82,000 pounds of non-perishable food through the generosity of donations from ShopRite customers – the equivalent of 1,708,000 meals. The donations were distributed to food pantries, soup kitchens, and other anti-poverty programs throughout the Archdiocese.
Speaking to the crowd of more than 400 guests at Anthony’s Pier 9, ShopRite’s Wing said, “ShopRite staff and customers are the best. They are generous and community-minded. It is thanks to them that we are able to support the important work of organizations like Catholic Charities.”
Leading the supermarket’s Feeding Our Neighbors fundraising efforts this year was ShopRite of New Rochelle, which raised $8,070, followed by ShopRite of Scarsdale with $7,249, and ShopRite of Fishkill at $7,125.
While the Feeding Our Neighbors campaign takes place just two weeks each winter, the need to feed the hungry lasts all year long. For more information about making a donation of cash or food, contact your local food pantry, Catholic Charities office, or visit www.catholiccharitiesny.org.
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Cutline 1: At Catholic Charities Community Services of Orange and Sullivan’s annual Celebration of Charity dinner, ShopRite Supermarkets presented Catholic Charities of The Archdiocese with a check for $96,500 in support of the 2018 Feeding Our Neighbors food drive.
