Bergen Community College: Stop & Shop Helps Fill Bergen Food Pantry

Press release from Bergen Community College:

PARAMUS, NJ — According to the Hope Center at Temple University, nearly one quarter of community college students experience food insecurity at some point during their time enrolled. To help confront this unfortunate reality, grocery retailer Stop & Shop recently donated $7,500 to the Bergen Community College Bergen Cares Center food pantry. Representatives of the 350-store chain visited the College’s main campus on “Giving Tuesday,” December 2, to present the donation to Bergen officials.

“Stop & Shop’s generosity reflects a commitment to supporting the community – an important value we share,” Bergen President Eric M. Friedman, Ph.D., said. “I hope you can see firsthand how your generosity impacts our college and our students. On behalf of the trustees and everybody that supports this college, we sincerely appreciate your support.”

Stop & Shop established its food pantry program to help limit barriers impacting students’ ability to succeed in the classroom. The program has grown to support 260 education-based pantries across its five-state footprint by providing gift card donations. External Communications Manager Daniel Wolk represented the company at the donation event.

“At Stop & Shop, our number one goal has always been to combat hunger,” he said. “I need to thank the entire faculty and staff here at Bergen Community College because the fact is, without you, these students would not be able to thrive in their next chapter of their lives.”

To combat student hunger at the institution, the Bergen Cares Center offers food, clothing, emergency funds and rental/utility assistance to students, faculty and staff in need. Facing hunger in an academic setting can upset a student’s health, focus on coursework and academic success, according to Cares Center Coordinator Annie Echeverry.

Based in Paramus, Bergen Community College (www.bergen.edu), a public two-year coeducational college, enrolls more than 13,000 students at locations in Paramus, the Philip Ciarco Jr. Learning Center in Hackensack and Bergen Community College at the Meadowlands in Lyndhurst. The College offers associate degree, certificate and continuing education programs in a variety of fields. More students graduate from Bergen than any other community college in the state.

This press release was produced by Bergen Community College. The views expressed here are the author’s own.