ShopRite donates $25,000 to America’s Grow-a-Row to help fight hunger at crop harvesting event.
On a recent visit to America’s Grow-a-Row farm in Pittstown, more than 20 ShopRite associates from the ShopRite of Clinton and the ShopRite of Flemington learned the basics of farming first hand by harvesting more than 3,000 pounds of eggplant – the equivalent of 12,000 servings – destined for delivery to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. ShopRite didn’t stop there. Joe Colalillo, Wakefern chairman and CEO and president of the ShopRite of Hunterdon County, presented a $25,000 check to support America’s Grow-a-Row mission to deliver free, fresh produce to those in need.
“ShopRite is proud to partner with and support America’s Grow-a-Row to combat food insecurity,” said Joe Colalillo. “The devastating effects of the pandemic have placed an even greater strain on local families, and we are committed to doing all that we can to help those in need.”
An interesting facet of America’s Grow-a-Row partnership with ShopRite is that volunteers from the organization make daily trips to ShopRite stores in Clinton and Flemington to rescue “not quite retail perfect” produce and deliver it to local food pantries. This process, known as “gleaning,” not only helps fight hunger but also keeps excess produce from being discarded and out of local landfills.
“ShopRite has proven invaluable to our ability to help people in Hunterdon County and across New Jersey,” said Chip Paillex, President and Founder, America’s Grow-a-Row. “From ‘hands-on’ support from volunteers at our farms, to providing fresh produce to those in need that would otherwise go to waste, ShopRite has made a real impact on our organization and those struggling from food insecurity.”
ShopRite is committed to fighting hunger in the communities our stores operate in. In 1999, ShopRite established the Partners In Caring program, a community-based, hunger-fighting initiative that supports more than 2,200 charities. Since its founding 20 years ago, ShopRite Partners In Caring has donated nearly $50 million to soup kitchens, food pantries, homeless shelters, senior citizen centers, and other organizations on the front lines of fighting hunger.