BJ's and Local Kids Team Up to Support Military Personnel Serving Overseas

    NATICK, Mass., Oct. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- BJ's Wholesale Club
 (NYSE:   BJ) is teaming up with the community to offer support to the military
 men and women serving overseas.  In honor of USA Weekend's national Make A
 Difference Day, each of BJ's 146 Clubs will host a "Heart of Gold Hero Bags"
 project on Saturday, October 25th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Kids at all BJ's
 Clubs will be invited to create personalized "Heart of Gold Hero Bags" filled
 with snacks and handmade "Thankful Thoughts" cards where children are allowed
 to express their gratitude for our servicemen and women.
     "BJ's strongly believes in our commitment to be responsible corporate
 citizens in the communities we serve," says Michael T. Wedge, President and
 CEO of BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc.  "We have implemented the 'Heart of Gold Hero
 Bags' program with the goal of helping children learn the importance of
 community service."
     In total, more than 7,000 bags will be created for military personnel; the
 USO will distribute the bags. Make A Difference Day is the largest national
 day of helping others.  The objective of the Make A Difference Day program is
 to give children a chance to share through community service and to learn that
 their actions can make a difference.  Last year, 3 million people participated
 in volunteer activities surrounding this annual event.  BJ's is proud to
 participate in Make A Difference Day for the fifth consecutive year.  For BJ's
 locations, log on to http://www.bjs.com/locations.
 
     Headquartered in Natick, Massachusetts, BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. is a
 leading operator of warehouse clubs in the eastern United States, with 146
 clubs in the chain.  In 2002, net sales rose to $5.7 billion and comparable
 club sales increased by 2.0%.  For more information on BJ's, log on to
 http://www.bjs.com.
 
 

SOURCE  BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc.