Stop & Shop to Donate 21,000 Turkeys to Local Food Banks across the Northeast

PURCHASE, N.Y. and QUINCY, Mass., Nov. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC is kicking off its holiday giving season with the annual Turkey Express program, which will donate nearly 21,000 turkeys to hunger relief organizations across the Northeast. As it celebrates its 100^th anniversary this year, Stop & Shop is renewing its commitment to making a positive difference in customers' lives every day. Programs like Turkey Express enable the company to share meals and give thanks to the communities and families it serves.

"At Stop & Shop, we continually strive to uphold our promise of being a better neighbor all year long," said Joe Kelley, president of Stop & Shop New England. "For the past 100 years, we have been committed to providing healthy and affordable meals to the community and will continue to support that mission through our hunger relief programs, such as Turkey Express, for the next 100."

According to FeedingAmerica.org, one in six people in the U.S. face hunger including one in five children.  Stop & Shop's Turkey Express program is just one of many ways the company is helping to ensure that everyone has enough to eat this holiday season and all year long. This year's Turkey Express will include 16 stops throughout New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.

Stop & Shop New York Metro will provide 8,700 Thanksgiving turkeys to eight New York area food banks including:

• November 12    Connecticut Food Bank
• November 13    Long Island Cares
• November 13    Island Harvest
• November 18    Community Food Bank of New Jersey
• November 18    Food Bank for New York City
• November 19    Food Bank for Westchester County
• November 19    Food Bank of the Hudson Valley
• November 20    Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties

Stop & Shop New England will provide 13,000 Thanksgiving turkeys to eight New England area food banks including:

• October 19       Foodshare
• October 31       The Worcester County Food Bank
• November 6      The Rhode Island Community Food Bank
• November 10    The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts
• November 12    The Greater Boston Food Bank
• November 13    The YMCA of East Boston
• November 15    The Dorchester YMCA
• November 22    The Pawtucket Boys & Girls Club

Turkey Express Stops throughout the Northeast

This year, Stop & Shop will have extra support from community members in delivering the turkeys to hunger relief organizations. On Long Island, U.S. Marines who served in Iraq and Afghanistan will help unload over 2,000 turkeys donated by Stop & Shop. In New Jersey, players from the New York Giants will help fulfill the call for donations at the Community Food Bank of New Jersey.

In Neptune, New Jersey medical personnel from Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch and Community Medical Center in Toms River and their patients who have survived cancer, cardiac issues and other life threatening illnesses will offer their assistance by unloading 1,500 turkeys. Additionally, college athletes from Southern Connecticut State University will assist the Connecticut Food Bank by helping to unload 1,000 turkeys from Stop & Shop.

"Stop & Shop is pleased to be of assistance to the food banks and food pantries who provide for those in  need of emergency provisions in the tri-state area," said Don Sussman, president of Stop & Shop's New York Metro Division.  "We are appreciative of the assistance from the U.S. Marines, the New York Giants, medical personnel and recovering cardiac and cancer patients and college athletes who will help us deliver our turkey donations.  We are grateful to them for helping us shine the spotlight on the need to help those who find themselves food challenged."

In Massachusetts, Stop & Shop will deliver more than 8,500 turkeys to organizations across the state including Boston, Worcester and Springfield, MA. Throughout Rhode Island, Stop & Shop will provide more than 2,250 turkeys to organizations throughout the state. At the Pawtucket Boys & Girls Club, the delivery will also include the fixings for a Thanksgiving meal, such as gravy and cranberry sauce.

In addition to turkey donations, Stop & Shop is encouraging customers to purchase a $10 Hunger Box filled with trimmings for a holiday meal, such as Stop & Shop's Own Brand stuffing mix, cut yams, cranberry sauce, etc. Customers can take the box and donate it personally to their local food pantry or the store will donate it to their regional food bank. This gift will help fight hunger in local communities.

About Stop & Shop

The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC employs over 59,000 associates and operates 395 stores throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey. The company helps support local communities fight hunger, combat childhood cancer and promote general health and wellness – with emphasis on children's educational and support programs. In its commitment to be a sustainable company, Stop & Shop is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and EPA's Smart Way program and has been recognized by the EPA for the superior energy management of its stores. Stop & Shop is an Ahold company.  Progressive Grocer has named Stop & Shop and its sister companies as the 2014 Retailer of the Year.  To learn more about Stop & Shop, visit www.stopandshop.com or www.facebook.com/stopandshop.

SOURCE Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC

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