Stop & Shop Customers Help Raise More Than $5,300 to Fight Hunger in Medford

The following was submitted by the Stop & Shop public relations department:

The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company announced today that customers who shop its store in Medford helped raise more than $5,300 through its annual Food for Friends program. The money was donated to Medford Family Life to help provide hunger relief to area residents.

“We are overwhelmed by the generosity and support from our customers and associates for Food for Friends,” said Suzi Robinson, a spokesperson for Stop & Shop. “We exceeded the amount raised in 2009 by 40 percent. Even a tough economy could not dampen the spirit of giving that exists with the associates and customers in our communities.”

Stop & Shop set a new record in 2010 with its 21st annual Food for Friends campaign and raised more than $2 million. Sixty percent of the funds were distributed directly to hundreds of local food pantries adopted by stores in each community; the remaining funds were allocated to regional state food banks.

The Food for Friends program ran in all 392 Stop & Shop stores from Oct. 29 through Dec. 10. Customers donated $1, $3, or $5 “paper turkeys” at their local Stop & Shop. Customer contributions accounted for 90 percent of the $2 million; Stop & Shop contributed $500 per store.