Neighbor News
Stop & Shop Employees Provide Holiday Gifts to Monmouth Families
Donations are a Part of Family & Children's Service's Annual Operation Sleighbells Program
More than 300 Stop & Shop store managers and associates from 18 stores across the Jersey Shore provided holiday gifts to 40 Monmouth County families as part of Family & Children’s Service’s annual Operation Sleighbells program. The Stop & Shop associates and representatives of Family & Children’s Service gathered at the Monroe Township Stop & Shop to load the gifts onto a truck, which transported the holiday gift items to FCS for distribution to the families.
During Operation Sleighbells Stop & Shop personnel ‘adopt’ local families through Family & Children Services. The Stop & Shop employees each personally fund the donation of warm coats, hats, gloves, toys, and infant necessities to families who may be struggling during the holiday season. Stop & Shop stores also give gift cards to the parents, allowing them to provide other holiday necessities to their children.
“Many in our community are struggling to buy their children and family members presents this holiday season,” said Christian Navarro, customer service manager of Stop & Shop Monroe Township. “At Stop & Shop, we are passionate about helping our community members live their absolute best lives, and that is why we are proud to support Operation Sleighbells. The gifts our associates donate will allow 40 local families better enjoy the upcoming holidays.”
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“Our agency was started 115 years ago on the premise that no one should feel forgotten during the holidays, especially children,” explains FCS CEO Louis Schwarcz. “Operation Sleighbells continues the tradition by bringing the community together to make the season brighter for our neighbors in need. Granting the holiday wish of a child may not seem like much, but for the child who might not otherwise receive a gift, or the parent who cannot provide one, it’s everything.”
Over the past nine years, Stop & Shop employees have granted the holiday wishes of over 360 area families and children. Some of the many gifts donated this year included 40 coats, 40 pairs of gloves and 150 toys.
