NEWTON, MA, 2014-2-14 — /EPR Retail News/ — Wegmans Food Markets will deliver an 18,000-pound Valentine to The Greater Boston Food Bank on Friday, February 14 at 10 am: A tractor-trailer filled with 9 tons of non-perishable food products. The Greater Boston Food Bank will, in turn, distribute the items to food pantries that serve the Newton area (Newton Food Pantry and Centre Street Food Pantry), where Wegmans’ newest store is located.
A group of Wegmans Chestnut Hill employees will be at the food bank when the donation arrives to help unload the truck which includes items such as canned fruits, vegetables, soups, juices, cereals and other products.
“This donation is symbolic of our commitment to feed those in need, and we hope it also demonstrates that we are serious about giving back to communities where our customers and employees live and work. We are humbled by the welcome Massachusetts has given us in Northborough and now Chestnut Hill, and we are honored to give back,” said Rich Boscia, Chestnut Hill Store Manager.
In 2013, Wegmans donated 16.5 million pounds of food to local food banks, food pantries, and soup kitchens across all of its market areas. The company also makes it easy for shoppers to support local hunger relief efforts by participating in annual food bank scanning programs at checkout. Since 1993, Wegmans has raised more than $23 million through these programs with 100% of the funds going directly to local agencies.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Wegmans into the greater Boston community,” said Cheryl Schondek, Vice President of Food Acquisition, The Greater Boston Food Bank. “Serving more than a half million residents is no easy task so we are very appreciative of great partners and donors like Wegmans and look forward to working with them for many years to come.”
Wegmans Chestnut Hill announced earlier this week that the store, a full-service supermarket and pharmacy, will open on Sunday, April 27. In advance of the store’s grand opening, the second-level 10,500 square-foot wine, beer and spirits shop will open on Saturday, March 29. For more information, including hiring details, visit www.wegmans.com.
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Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is an 83-store supermarket chain with stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, and Massachusetts. The family-owned company, founded in 1916, is recognized as an industry leader and innovator. Wegmans has been named one of the ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’ by FORTUNE magazine for 17 consecutive years. In 2014, Wegmans ranked #12 on the list.
About The Greater Boston Food Bank
The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) is the largest hunger-relief organization in New England and among the largest food banks in the country. GBFB distributes nearly 48 million pounds of food and grocery products annually to 540 member hunger-relief agencies and more than 30 direct service programs throughout eastern Massachusetts in a dedicated partnership to end hunger in our region. This provides meals for as many as 545,000 people a year. GBFB is a member of Feeding America, the nation’s food bank network. For more information, visit GBFB.org, become a fan on Facebook, follow us on Twitter (@gr8bosfoodbank), or call 617.427.5200.
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