Stop & Shop’s $2 Million Donation Supports Eight Feeding America® Food Banks in NY, NJ and CT to Fight Hunger

Stop & Shop presented a check exceeding $154,000 to Feeding Westchester at their distribution center in Elmsford to support the food bank’s Fresh Produce Initiative. Stop & Shop associates also volunteered at the facility, filling produce bags to be delivered to children and families in need across Westchester County. This contribution aligns with Stop & Shop’s primary charitable mission to combat hunger within its communities and is part of a larger $2 million commitment to support Feeding America® food banks across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. These funds are crucial in bolstering essential programs that alleviate food insecurity throughout the county.

Food insecurity has continued to rise across Westchester County. Feeding Westchester’s operations have more than doubled over the last several years to address the growing hunger rate. In 2019 Feeding Westchester distributed 10 million pounds of food, including 4.4 million in fresh produce, and in 2025 Feeding Westchester distributed over 21 million pounds of food, including 8.2 million in fresh produce. According to the most recent data from Feeding Westchester:

• 38% of households, over 1 in 3, are at risk of hunger in Westchester County
• A family of four must make at least $131,316 to afford basic household essentials in Westchester County (SOURCE: ALICE Report 2025, United Way of Westchester and Putnam)

The donation from Stop & Shop was generated through an amalgamation of its in-store ‘Feed it Forward’ campaign, which ran from June 6th to July 6th, and a significant contribution from the Stop & Shop Family Foundation. The ‘Feed it Forward’ campaign raised over $29,000, while the Stop & Shop Family Foundation contributed $125,000, all aimed at supporting Feeding Westchester’s Fresh Produce Initiative.

The donation will help fund Feeding Westchester’s fresh produce initiative, a commitment to distributing at least 8 million pounds of nutritious fruits and vegetables annually to individuals and families in need throughout Westchester County. Fresh produce makes up approximately 40% of Feeding Westchester’s annual food distribution of 21.1 million pounds, which served an average of 234,000 neighbors each month — including 80,000 children and 36,000 seniors — in the past year. The fresh produce is distributed through a network of 175 partners, including food pantries, soup kitchens, schools, shelters, residential facilities, and direct distribution efforts like the Feeding Westchester Mobile Food Pantry and Fresh Market.

“As one of Westchester County’s leading grocery retailers, we’ve witnessed the profound impact food insecurity has on families, especially children who go without regular access to fresh, nutritious food,” said Daniel Wolk, External Communications & Community Relations Manager at Stop & Shop. “With demand at food banks like Feeding Westchester reaching record levels, we feel a strong responsibility to take action. That’s why we’re proud to donate more than $154,000 to help provide our neighbors across Westchester with greater access to healthy, fresh produce year-round.”

Each year, Feeding Westchester relies on the generosity of organizations like Stop & Shop to serve neighbors facing hunger. Stop & Shop’s Meat the Needs Program, ‘Feed It Forward’ campaign, Annual Turkey Express Program, Stop & Shop Family Foundation donation, School Food Pantry Program, and direct support are a few of the many ways the company supports anti-hunger organizations in the communities it serves.

“We are so grateful to Stop & Shop for their long-time partnership and continued generosity,” said Tami Wilson, Chief Operating Officer of Feeding Westchester. “Now more than ever, this donation will help put food on the tables of hard-working families who are struggling to afford everyday essentials in Westchester. This is just one example of how Stop & Shop takes meaningful action for our community all year long. From in-store food drives and hands-on volunteer efforts to awareness-building media events, their commitment to the fight against hunger is inspiring.”

The donation of over $154,000 will allow Feeding Westchester to better help its neighbors by distributing healthy, fresh produce to children and their families across Westchester County. To learn more about Stop & Shop’s community support; visit: https://stopandshop.com/pages/feed-it-forward.