Feeding America: Stop & Shop, Tunxis Team Up To Boost Food Bank

FARMINGTON, CT — Stop & Shop this week announced a $5,000 donation to the Tunxis Community College Food Pantry.

The grant will assist the TCC food pantry in providing "nutritious options and basic necessities to students in need."

"Many in our communities have been forced to face the challenges associated with hunger as a result of COVID-19,” said Maura O’Brien, Stop & Shop's manager of community relations. "Students face a unique set of difficulties and lessening the burden of food insecurity that many students face every day will help them to focus on their education and their future. Stop & Shop is proud to assist in supporting TCC's campus food pantry, helping to ensure students have access to food to help them succeed in their studies and life outside of the classroom."

With the help of Stop & Shop, the Tunxis Food Pantry will be able to focus on providing more nutritious options for students. Stop & Shop will also aid students with nutrition education and other resources through its Nutrition Partners program, delivered virtually by Stop & Shop’s team of registered dietitians.

"We are grateful for Stop & Shop’s generous donation and support for the pantry," said Chuck Cleary, the dean of student affairs. “This food assistance has an important impact in helping many of our students to increase their concentration, focus on their studies and ultimately be more successful.”

A ribbon-cutting ceremony that took place Sept. 9 on Tunxis Community College's campus in Farmington commemorated the pantry's reopening at its new location on campus, further solidifying Stop & Shop and Tunxis Community College's commitment to eradicating food insecurity faced by students.

For more information on Stop & Shop’s programs to support local communities, visit www.stopandshop.com/pages/school-food-pantry-program.

____

This story is part of Patch's new partnership with Feeding America. Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 54 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.

(Patch Media Partner/Shutterstock)