Keasbey, New Jersey-based Price Rite Marketplace and Feed the Children teamed up to host eight anti-hunger events in 2020, as part of their annual Feeding Minds and Bodies campaign that distributes food and essentials to vulnerable families in communities where Price Rite Marketplace stores operate. As a result of their efforts, $1.4 million worth of food and essentials were provided to 22,000 individuals.
The events were held in cities across the Northeast from July through October and benefited families that were pre-identified based on need by a local community partner. Each participating family received a 25-pound box of food, a 15-pound box of essentials that included shampoo, conditioner, lotion and personal-care items and additional shelf-stable items provided by Price Rite Marketplace.
State and local elected officials showed their support at the events, speaking at opening ceremonies and helping distribute food to families. In Windsor, Connecticut, Gov. Ned Lamont and Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz timed the event with their pledge to ensure all food pantries will be stocked with food during COVID-19. In Erie, Pennsylvania, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman and his wife, Gisele Fetterman, spoke about the importance of each state being able to provide for the families that need help.
“For six years we have been partnering with Feed the Children to provide food and essentials to local families in need,” said Jim Dorey, president of Price Rite Marketplace. “With so many people struggling due to the pandemic, our 2020 campaign had an even greater impact. I am incredibly proud that so many Price Rite associates took the time to help our neighbors struggling with food insecurity.”
“It’s a chaotic and stressful time for families, many who have never needed help before,” said Travis Arnold, president and CEO of Feed the Children. “Our neighbors need food and essentials to help them make it through the current crisis. We are thankful for our partnership with Price Rite Marketplace to help ease the burden many families are facing.”
Cities hosting Feeding Minds and Bodies events in 2020 were:
- Allentown, Erie and Reading, Pennsylvania;
- Seekonk and Chicopee, Massachusetts;
- Windsor, Connecticut;
- Rochester, New York; and
- Woonsocket, Rhode Island.
Corporate and local partners who helped make these events possible include: Alexander & Hornung, Amick, Butterball, Frito-Lay, Kraft, Nabisco, PepsiCo, Perdue, Tyson, Angels Care Closet, Awakening Church, Bethany Outreach Center, Catholic Family Center, End Hunger Connecticut!, Everlasting Life Ministries, Hope Rescue Mission and Revival Time Evangelistic Center.
Fighting hunger is at the heart of Price Rite Marketplace’s charitable giving and paired with Feed the Children’s vision to create a world where no child goes to bed hungry, the two created an initiative called Feeding Minds and Bodies. Price Rite Marketplace and Feed the Children help children and their families by providing food, personal care items and school supplies throughout the year.
Since partnering with Feed the Children, Price Rite Marketplace has contributed nearly three million pounds of food, totaling more than $9 million in gift-in-kind donations, helping more than 145,000 people in 49 cities.
