Townie Pride Food Pantry opens today on-campus at East Providence High School

Stop & Shop and We Share Hope Cut Ribbon at East Providence School District Food Pantry
To Help Local Students Facing Hunger

Photo: We Share Hope

On Thursday, April 6, at 11am, representatives from Stop & Shop, We Share Hope, Campbell’s Snacks and Mayor Bob DaSilva will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the on-campus food pantry in the East Providence School District. The pantry will improve access to fresh and shelf-stable foods for local students in the East Providence School District, where 50% of the student population is eligible for free school meals.

A few key factors that helped to make this food pantry opening possible include:

• Stop & Shop provided a $25,000 donation to stock the shelves with food and personal care items.
• Campbell Snacks will provide an in-kind donation of Pepperidge Farm® Goldfish® specifically to support students across the local district, on the heels of a $125,000 donation to support the continued expansion of the School Food Pantry Program as a whole.
• For the second time this year, Stop & Shop is collaborating with We Share Hope, a Rhode Island organization that retrieves surplus food and distributes it to local nonprofits.

As hunger and food insecurity continue to challenge families across New England, Stop & Shop is expanding its School Food Pantry Program with the opening of its newest location on the campus of East Providence High School. Today Stop & Shop in partnership with We Share Hope, Campbell Snacks, and the East Providence School District, gathered for a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the new in-school food pantry to improve access to fresh and shelf-stable foods for hundreds of students across the East Providence School District.

To establish the food pantry, Stop & Shop provided a $25,000 donation to stock the shelves with food and personal care items. Named after the district mascot, the “Townie Pride Pantry” is accessible for local students and their families.  School officials also anticipate packing and delivering bags to support 200 students across the district from elementary school through high school.

“We’re so grateful to Stop & Shop, Campbell Snacks and We Share Hope for making this new food pantry possible and nurturing the growth of our student population,” said Dr. Sandra Forand, East Providence School District Superintendent. “The opening of the Townie Pride Pantry is coming at a critical time when about half the students across our district are qualifying for free school meals, so our partners’ support will have a very positive impact on our school community.” 

The Townie Pride Pantry marks the second Rhode Island school food pantry collaboration between We Share Hope and Stop & Shop, following a successful opening in Newport earlier this year at Rogers High School. Founded in 2008, We Share Hope retrieves surplus food from partners in the food industry and distributes that food to non-profit groups throughout Rhode Island. Earlier this year, We Share Hope partnered with districts in Providence, Central Falls, and Pawtucket to open similar school food pantries and deliver food on a regular basis.

“Stop & Shop’s generosity continues to help us reduce the stress associated with food insecurity for students and families across Rhode Island,” said Johanna Corcoran, Executive Director for We Share Hope. 

Additionally, Campbell Snacks today announced it will donate $125,000 to support the continued expansion of the Stop & Shop’s School Food Pantry Program across the grocer’s five state footprint. For the launch of the East Providence School Food Pantry, Campbell Snacks will also provide an in-kind donation of Pepperidge Farm® Goldfish® specifically to support students across the local district.  

“At Stop & Shop, we are committed to expanding our School Food Pantry Program and partnering with organizations like We Share Hope and Campbell Snacks allows us to make a difference in the lives of Rhode Island students in need,” shared Jennifer Brogan, Director of External Communications and Community Relations for Stop & Shop. “With 95 in-school food pantries now open across Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island, we are able to provide consistent food access to thousands of students and families in our communities.”

Established in 2019, the Stop & Shop School Food Pantry Program nourishes students ranging from elementary school through graduate school by working directly with schools to establish and support in-school food pantries. The Stop & Shop School Food Pantry Program benefits more than 40,000 children and families at over 170 schools across its five-state footprint. I

n Rhode Island, Stop & Shop proudly supports food pantries at Community College of Rhode Island and William M. Davies, Jr. Career & Technical High School in Lincoln, Juanita Sanchez Educational Complex, The Groden Center, Achievement First Promesa Mayoral Academy Elementary School in Providence and Rogers High School in Newport. For more information, visit www.stopandshop.com/pages/school-food-pantry-program.

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 against hunger, supporting our troops and through overall incredible acts of care. The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC is an Ahold Delhaize USA Company and employs more than 54,000 associates and operates more than 400 stores throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey. To learn more about Stop & Shop, visit www.stopandshop.com.