Stop & Shop Donates $12,500 to Create PS380 School Food Pantry

Stop & Shop today announced a $12,500 donation to PS 380 John Wayne Elementary School to aid in the creation of an on-campus school food pantry. This grant will assist PS 380 in providing nutritious options and basic necessities to students in need and their families. This new pantry is part of The Stop & Shop School Food Pantry Program, a larger initiative that supports nearly 170 in-school pantries across five states to help ensure that no student has to go to school hungry.

“So many members of our communities face the challenges of food insecurity. This burden is especially heavy for students and families,” shares Chris Luisi, Store Manager of Stop & Shop on Atlantic Ave. “The Stop & Shop School Food Pantry Program is proud to support PS 380, and we hope that this donation will help to ensure students have access to food so they can succeed in the classroom.”

Stop & Shop’s donation will benefit John Wayne Elementary students in need by offering them food and other essentials through the new on-campus school food pantry. John Wayne Elementary School teachers and administrators have also installed a stove and refrigerator in the pantry with hopes of adding cooking demonstrations to the school’s more than 500 students aged 3 to 10 and their families. With the majority of students receiving free and reduced meals daily, the in-school pantry provides food, personal hygiene products, and other essentials to students within their community.

“We are truly grateful to Stop and Shop for their generosity and for giving our students and families in need the opportunity to receive nutritious food and other essentials,” said Victoria Prisinzano, Principal of P.S. 380. “This donation will also allow us to provide workshops and nutrition education to families, which will support students’ overall health and success in the classroom.”

The ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has only increased the need faced by students and their families, making it more severe than ever. Because of the high need among PS 380 students across Brooklyn, the Stop & Shop School Food Pantry operation will focus on providing nutritious options to students. Stop & Shop will also aid students with nutrition education and other resources through its Nutrition Partners program, led by Stop & Shop’s team of registered dietitians.

“Thank you to Stop and Shop for its generous donation, which has made our Project Hope School Food Pantry possible,” adds Johann Cariello, School Food Pantry Organizer and Cultural Literacy teacher at P.S. 380. “Taking care of our community through nutritious foods and healthy eating habits fosters the well-being of our students and their educational success.”

A ribbon cutting ceremony held on February 16, 2023, at PS380 John Wayne Elementary School’s on-campus school food pantry, located at 370 Marcy Ave, commemorated the campus pantry’s opening, further solidifying Stop & Shop and PS380’s commitment to eradicating food insecurity faced by students.

For more information on The Stop & Shop School Food Pantry Program, visit www.stopandshop.com/pages/school-food-pantry-program.