Stop & Shop Gave $29 Million in 2014

The Stop & Shop Supermarket Co. made more than $29 million in combined cash and product charitable donations in 2014, with the aid of its customers, vendors and associates. 

"These efforts underscore Stop & Shop's commitment to the communities we serve," said Don Sussman, president of Stop & Shop New York metro and New England divisions, which are based in Purchase, N.Y., and Quincy, Mass., respectively.

Stop & Shop's 2014 donations to regional food bank partners and local pantries accounted for 49.5 percent, or $14.8 million, of its overall contributions. Of the total hunger-related donation amount, about 86 percent were safe consumable foods, such as bakery items and frozen meat, sent to regional food bank partners. Under the chain's Meat the Needs program, the Stop & Shop freezes meat that would otherwise go unsold but is still safe to eat, and gives it to area food banks. In 2014, a whopping 3 million pounds of meat were diverted from landfills in this way.

The grocer's commitment to charities helping kids was shown in 2014 by its $4 million donation to support local pediatric cancer hospitals and research organizations. Since 1990, Stop & Shop has raised $71 million-plus for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York and Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Massachusetts. Further, Stop & Shop's A+ School Rewards program enabled more than 3,800 public and private schools to receive $2.5 million during the 2013-14 school year to fund scholarship programs, technology equipment and other educational needs. Since the program launched in 2008, more than $9.6 million has gone to local schools.

The banner also gave to American Cancer Society Making Strides for breast cancer awareness, Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund (JDRF) and Support Our Troops, among others, as well as committing more than $5.5 million in contributions to local community groups and various nonprofit organizations throughout its market area.

Fellow Ahold USA banner Giant/Martin’s donated $27 million in 2014.

Stop & Shop employs more than 59,000 associates and operates 395 stores in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey.