Stop & Shop's Turkey Express Set to Roll
(Quincy, MA) November 1, 2005 - The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company today rolled out
its annual Turkey Express program wherein it donates thousands of turkeys to FoodPATCH,
Westchester County; Food Bank of Hudson Valley; Long Island Cares; and Food Bank for New
York City, Food for Survival, between now and mid November, for distribution to families
in need in the New York Metropolitan area.
The Turkey Express program this year will deliver 16,000 turkeys to hunger relief
organizations in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New York and
New Jersey between now and November 17.
"Stop & Shop is proud to be able to help support these food banks and the families
they serve," said Stop & Shop's Executive Vice President of Operations Bill Cummings.
"Our Turkey Express program will allow these organizations to continue to help those in
need by providing them with a Thanksgiving meal."
Each year, Stop & Shop donates millions in financial support and product to
individual food banks in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New
York and New Jersey. In addition to the Turkey Express program, Stop & Shop continues
to fight hunger through the Food For Friends campaign, which will raise more than $1
million this year for more than 300 local hunger relief organizations throughout six
states.
The immediate need: The government recently announced that the number of people, who are
hungry because they cannot afford to buy enough food, rose to 38.2 million in 2004, an
increase of 7 million in five years. The number represents nearly 12% of U.S.
households.
"In the United States, five million people live at or below the poverty level, and nearly
a third of them are children," Cummings said. "Providing meals to those who need help is
a cause that directly impacts each community in which we operate and gives each store the
opportunity to form a lasting partnership with a local food pantry and make a
difference."
Stop & Shop is known for its charitable assistance. The supermarket chain has raised
millions of dollars each year fighting hunger, childhood diseases and supporting the
communities it serves.
Stop & Shop's charitable assistance in New York: a thumbnail sketch:
- In 2004, Stop & Shop contributed a total of $126,841 to the Food Bank of New
York City, the Food PATCH of Westchester County, Long Island Cares, Long Island Harvest
and the Regional Food bank of Northeastern New York; as well as $174,262 to local food
pantries through its Food For Friends Program.
- Through Stop & Shop's 2004 Turkey Express Program, over 1,650 turkeys (with a
wholesale value of $15,958) were donated to these same food banks.
- Stop & Shop's 76 stores in the New York area and corporate office donate more
than $300,000 annually in product, gift certificates and cash donations to local
non-profit organizations such as local school and church programs, little leagues,
firefighters, etc.
- Through its popular Triple Winner Game, Stop & Shop raised a total of $1
million in 2005 for the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center to treat pediatric
cancer and search for a cure.
About Stop and Shop and Giant Food
The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC and Giant Food LLC employ more than 86,000
associates and operate more than 565 stores throughout the Eastern United States. We are
part of Ahold, one of the world's largest food providers.
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