"Too many people in Massachusetts don't have enough to eat. We are pleased to partner with 4H in this food drive, easing the burden of families in need," said Cumberland Farms chairperson and CEO Lily Bentas. Bentas is also a trustee of National 4[image-nocss] H Council and an alumna of the program.
The 4H will retrieve the donations from the Cumberland Farms stores, delivering the food to local food banks in each county, from Barnstable to Berkshire, from Norfolk to Middlesex, from Worcester to Plymouth and in between.
Also this month, Cumberland Farms began accepting applications for its annual Believe & Achieve Scholarship program. Additionally, the company strengthened its commitment to breast cancer research with a sponsorship of the Making Strides Walk for Breast Cancer and has engaged the public to help with fundraising by purchasing pink ribbons in their stores during October.
Canton, Mass.-based Cumberland Farms' network of retail stores, gas stations and a support system including petroleum, dairy and grocery distribution operations spans 11 states across the Northeast and Florida.
Separately, Wawa Inc. has announced that it will hold its ninth annual Check Out Hunger Campaign, to benefit local food banks. The campaign will run from November 3 though November 30 in all of Wawa's 570 stores throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.
Check Out Hunger is an annual in-store fundraising campaign that allows Wawa customers to combat area hunger through scannable UPC coupons. Customers can either add $1, $3, or $5 donations to their Wawa purchase or they can chose to purchase "soup bowl" cutouts to be displayed with their name in the store; proceeds will benefit the Feeding America food banks throughout our market area.
"At Wawa we have our always taken our commitment to fighting hunger very seriously, and we are keenly aware that the aid and support of local food banks is a critical piece in the fighting hunger equation," said Howard Stoeckel, Wawa's president and CEO of the Wawa, Pa.-based chain. "Through our Check Out Hunger campaign, we hope to assist the life-altering work of our local food banks, creating a brighter, hunger-free future for everyone."
Check Out Hunger is part of Wawa's ongoing effort to fight hunger. In addition to this campaign, each year, Wawa makes corporate contributions through the sponsorship of Kid's Cafe & Baby Manna programs, as well as through additional in-store fundraising. Over the past 5 years, Wawa has contributed more than $500,000 from in-store fundraising and corporate contributions. Wawa hopes to build on the success of last year's Check Out Hunger campaign, where Wawa received more than $100,000 in donations and raised enough funds to provide 1 million meals to local food banks.
"This year Check-Out Hunger is arriving in stores just in time," said Mary O'Connell, regional Check-Out Hunger coordinator. "The Feeding America Food Banks across the region need help more than ever during this economic crisis. With more people in need when food bank shelves are empty, Check Out Hunger is absolutely crucial to our operations. Wawa and its customers have been longtime supporters and their generosity will help make the 2008 campaign a huge success for the Food Banks--and all those we serve."
[Pictured (l to r): Emily Smith, Lily Bentas, Emily Oneschuk, Alyssa Adario, Marci Zaccardi (members of the 4-H Nifty Needle's Club).]
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