HAUPPAUGE– For the 12th consecutive year, a truck carrying nearly 27,000 pounds of food arrived at Long Island Cares on National Action Hunger Day – Thursday, September 14 – thanks to Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation’s “Three Square Meals” hunger relief program.
In total, Ocean State Job Lot plans to donate eight million pounds of food – or about 10.4 million meals – loaded on 200 tractor trailers throughout the year to 19 food banks and pantries, which will in turn distribute to thousands of soup kitchens and meal sites in six New England States, New York, and New Jersey.
Staff members and volunteers gathered to greet the delivery, mirroring the festivities at Job Lot’s distribution center in North Kingstown, R.I., when the public, VIPs, and local dignitaries cheer the convoy of trucks as they depart earlier that morning.
“As we mark Hunger Action Month, the generous donation from Ocean State Job Lot is a profoundly moving event and an example of partnership at every level,” said Paule T. Pachter, CEO of Long Island Cares, Inc. – The Harry Chapin Food Bank.
“It begins with customers who donate at the register, matching funds from the Job Lot Charitable Foundation, and the involvement of business and food partners,” Pachter said. “Most importantly, it culminates in the delivery of substantial and nutritious food to provide meals for families and individuals throughout our region who need it the most.”
Three Square Meals is the single largest food assistance program of its kind in the region. It is operated by Ocean State Job Lot, a 127-store discount retail chain headquartered in North Kingstown, R.I.
Funds for Three Square Meals were raised between November and December last year through a combination of in-store customer donations at the register, contributions from the business community, and matching funds from the Job Lot Charitable Foundation. Job Lot donates the cost of operational support, including delivery, insurances, warehousing, fuel, labor, and other expenses to ensure that 100 percent of every dollar raised goes to the plate to help families and individuals in need.
Food items to be distributed include pasta, cereal, canned vegetables and fruit, soup, canned tuna, dried beans, rice, and more totaling 26,452 lbs of food.