Stop & Shop sets up new Food Pantry at Woonsocket elementary school

Pothier-Citizens Elementary Fights Student Food Insecurity with new School Food Pantry 

The “Eagles Nest” is a part of The Stop & Shop School Food Pantry Program – Stop & Shop has donated $10,000 and shelving to help build and stock the pantry

The Pothier-Citizens Elementary Campus today celebrated the official grand opening of the “Eagles Nest,” an initiative aimed at addressing food insecurity amongst its students and their families.  The school partnered with the Stop & Shop School Food Pantry Program to open the pantry.  

70% of the 719 pre-k through grade 5 students enrolled at Pothier-Citizens Campus live below the poverty line and face food insecurity daily. The newly established “Eagles Nest” will increase access to nutritious foods to students and their families during weeknights and weekends.

“The generosity of the Stop and Shop Corporation will allow us to provide our families a helping hand when needed.” said Cathy Carvalho, Principal of Pothier-Citizens Elementary Campus.“This pantry will provide a welcoming place to go and help meet the needs of our students and families. “ 

Stop & Shop, through its school food pantry program, has committed a total of $10,000 to help support the Eagles Nest and stock its shelves with nutritious, shelf stable food items. The Stop & Shop School Food Pantry Program was established to help limit barriers impacting students’ ability to succeed in the classroom by making sure that they have consistent access to food. The Stop & Shop School Food Pantry Program currently supports  11 in-school food pantries in Rhode Island, which serve a total of 21 schools. Since 2019 Stop & Shop has donated more than $332,500 to its School Food Pantry partners across the Ocean State. Stop & Shop makes annual grants to support its school pantries, so Pothier-Citizens will have the opportunity to re-apply for funding in 2026 and beyond.

“We hope the new “Eagles Nest” will be a resource where students and their families can find nourishment, and the children can feel empowered to perform their best in school,” said Jennifer Barr, Director of External Communications and Community Relations at Stop & Shop. “It’s our mission to ensure no child goes to school hungry. Stop & Shop is committed to expanding our School Food Pantry Program to serve more neighbors in need across Rhode Island.”

Immediately following the ribbon cutting at the Eagles Nest Pantry, Stop & Shop hosted a “Wellness Wednesday” celebration for the entire school with events designed to elevate healthy lifestyle choices in a fun and engaging way.  Red Sox mascot Wally The Green Monster visited the school along with the team’s world Series trophy.  Events included: 

• A 20-minute exercise class with former Red Sox pitcher and current NESN Red Sox analyst Lenny DiNardo
• Healthy snacks and an interactive nutrition workshop with Allison Delaney, MS, RD, LDN, Director of Healthy Living at Stop & Shop
• The Stop & Shop Community Food Truck was on site with Marty the Robot to distribute popsicles to all students and faculty. 

The event marked the renewal of Stop & Shop’s partnership with the Red Sox on a multi-year campaign to Strike Out School Hunger. Each strikeout completed by the Red Sox during regular season home games will feed 1,000 students in need across the Northeast.  

About Stop & Shop:

A neighborhood grocer for more than 100 years, Stop & Shop is focused on delivering a wide assortment of fresh, healthy options at a great value through strong weekly sales and everyday low prices. Its new GO Rewards loyalty program delivers personalized offers and allows customers to earn points that can be redeemed for gas or groceries every time they shop. Stop & Shop customers can choose however they want to shop – whether it’s in-store or online, which offers both delivery and same day pickup. The company is committed to making an impact in its communities by fighting hunger and working to ensure no students has to go to school hungry through its Stop & Shop School Food Pantry Program. The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC is an Ahold Delhaize USA Company and employs over 50,000 associates and operates more than 350 stores throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, and New Jersey. To learn more about Stop & Shop, visit www.stopandshop.com.