Stop & Shop Celebrates 300th Pantry, $1.7M Walk

Grocers across the United States are highlighting community aid this week, with Stop & Shop celebrating its 300th school pantry and Stater Bros. Charities reporting a $1.7 million haul from its annual cancer-support walk.

Stop & Shop reaches 300 school pantry milestone

In Framingham, Massachusetts, McCarthy Elementary School became the latest partner in the retailer’s School Food Pantry Program, receiving a $10,000 grant, new shelving and a commercial-grade refrigerator to launch the “McCarthy Market.”

The program, launched in 2019, has poured more than $10 million into school-based food hubs, now assisting roughly 50,000 students and families each month, making it one of the nation’s largest efforts of its kind.

“When a child is hungry, it’s hard to think about anything else, let alone focus on schoolwork,” said Roger Wheeler, president of Stop & Shop.

A recent partner survey showed 87 percent of sites report reduced stigma around pantry use, 79 percent note a stronger school culture, and 46 percent see higher student attendance.

McCarthy, a Title I school, lists 55 percent of its 474 enrolled students as economically disadvantaged, while the Greater Boston Food Bank says food insecurity in the state has more than doubled since 2019.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony featured a learning day with The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art and author-illustrator Jarrett J. Krosoczka, who presented his Lunch Lady graphic novels to the class.

Stop & Shop also contributed 500 curated books and previously provided 500 Red Sox tickets through its Strike Out School Hunger partnership, where each home strikeout feeds 1,000 students.

Stater Bros. Charities’ Believe Walk hits $1.7 million

The 19th annual Believe Walk took place in downtown Redlands, California, on Oct. 4, drawing more than 8,000 walkers, volunteers, donors and sponsors.

Organizers announced a total of $1.7 million raised, including $1.2 million contributed directly by Stater Bros. Markets through in-store and online campaigns.

Proceeds are earmarked for 18 Southern California cancer-fighting organizations that provide treatment access, transportation, financial assistance, groceries and other support services to patients and families.

Since its inception in 2008, Stater Bros. Charities has allocated over $54 million to local causes, and the Believe Walk community alone has invested more than $12.6 million in the fight against cancer.

United Family supports South Plains educators

Across Texas, The United Family joined forces with Cheez-It through the College Football Playoff Foundation’s Extra Yard for Teachers initiative, directing $25,000 to teachers in the South Plains region. Grants were allocated via DonorsChoose, allowing educators to fund classroom projects and acquire needed resources. “Teachers play a vital role in the success of our communities, and we are grateful for opportunities like this to partner with organizations that share our commitment to education,” said Chris James, vice president of operations for The United Family.

Following the award ceremony, The United Family, Cheez-It, Dr Pepper and Johnsonville hosted a community tailgate at Market Street, where participants posed beside the College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy. The event highlighted the collaboration’s focus on education, hunger relief and wellness, reinforcing the grocery chain’s ongoing partnership with Mars Snacking brands throughout the year.

Tops and other grocers deliver local aid

In Western New York, Tops Friendly Markets presented a check for $20,065 to the Patricia Allen Fund at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, reflecting proceeds from the sale of Buffalo-inspired socks during the previous football season. The campaign moved more than 4,000 pairs and included a one-for-one donation model, sending a matching sock to each patient at the hospital.

The socks returned to store shelves for the 2025-2026 season, with a portion of new sales again benefiting the Patricia Allen Fund and continuing the one-for-one contribution.

Aldi volunteers assembled over 1,300 disaster-relief food boxes at a Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino event, providing shelf-stable items for emergency distribution. Vanesa Rangel-Mercado, interim chief executive of the nonprofit, explained that the Inland Empire frequently faces wildfire impacts, making rapid food assistance essential. Feeding America distributes more than 3.3 million pounds of food each month through nearly 250 partner organizations.