BOSTON, June 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- BJ's Wholesale Club today announced a $100,000 donation from the BJ's Charitable Foundation to The Greater Boston Food Bank, a Feeding America® member food bank. The donation will help fund The Greater Boston Food Bank's program to expand its partner agencies' capacity to distribute fresh, healthy food to families in need across Eastern Massachusetts.
The Greater Boston Food Bank is one of nine food banks to benefit from BJ's Charitable Foundation's $1 million donation to Feeding America, the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization. BJ's $1 million donation to Feeding America is the foundation's largest single donation to any organization to date.
"BJ's is bringing a fresh approach to nourishing communities and helping families thrive, and we're proud to support The Greater Boston Food Bank," said Kirk Saville, executive director of the BJ's Charitable Foundation. "No one should have to worry about where to get their next meal, and we know that food banks face challenges in storing and distributing perishable foods. Our strategic partnership with Feeding America is focused on building capacity for fresh food at local food banks so we can work together to put an end to hunger in our communities."
Last year, The Greater Boston Food Bank distributed more than 48 million healthy meals through its network of 530 partner food pantries, meal programs and shelters in 190 cities and towns throughout Eastern Massachusetts. Nearly 30 percent of the food GBFB distributes is fresh fruits and vegetables, and half is perishable including eggs, milk, juice, and meat.
BJ's $100,000 grant to GBFB's capacity program will help 10 of its partner food pantries purchase walk-in refrigerators and freezers, commercial-size refrigerators and freezers, and refrigerated vehicles. With these assets, the food bank's partners will have the basic equipment necessary to safely store and distribute perishable foods, specifically fresh produce, to their clients in need.
"One in ten people in Eastern Massachusetts struggles on a day-to-day basis to have enough healthy food to eat; one in eight is a child," said Catherine D'Amato, president and CEO of The Greater Boston Food Bank. "With BJ's generous donation, GBFB will be able to expand capacity throughout our network, enabling us to grow the volume of healthy foods we distribute and helping us to end hunger here."
Since 2009, BJ's has provided ongoing support to Feeding America through the BJ's Charitable Foundation and BJ's Feeding Communities® program, helping local food banks successfully expand their programs to reach wider and more diverse audiences.
In addition to capacity building grants from the BJ's Charitable Foundation, BJ's has secured over 50 million pounds of donated food, including fresh produce, frozen meats and fish, baked goods and dairy items through the BJ's Feeding Communities® program.
To learn more about the BJ's Charitable Foundation and its Feeding Communities Program, visit bjs.com/charity.
To learn more about The Greater Boston Food Bank, visit GBFB.orghttp://www.lowcountryfoodbank.org/.
About BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc.
Headquartered in Westborough, Massachusetts, BJ's is the leading operator of membership warehouse clubs in the Eastern United States. The company currently operates 215 clubs and 132 BJ's Gas® locations in 16 states.
BJ's provides a one-stop shopping destination filled with top-quality, leading brands, including its exclusive Wellsley Farms® and Berkley Jensen® brands, along with USDA Choice meats, premium produce and delicious organics, many in supermarket sizes. BJ's is also the only major membership warehouse club to accept all manufacturers' coupons and, for greater convenience, offers the most payment options.
Visit www.BJs.com, and for exclusive content find us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.
BJ's is wholly owned by affiliates of Leonard Green & Partners, CVC Capital Partners and its management team.
About The Greater Boston Food Bank
The Greater Food Bank (GBFB) is the largest hunger-relief organization in New England and among the largest food banks in the country. GBFB provides the equivalent of nearly 48 million healthy meals annually distributed through its network of 530 member agencies in the 190 cities and towns across Eastern Massachusetts. GBFB operates four direct service programs at nearly 70 sites throughout the area. A member of Feeding America, the nation's food bank network, GBFB serves more than 140,000 people every month in its mission to create a hunger-free Eastern Massachusetts. For more information, visit us at GBFB.org, become a fan on Facebook, follow us on Twitter (@gr8bosfoodbank), or call us at 617.427.5200.
About Feeding America®
Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the Unites States. Through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, we provide meals to more than 46 million people each year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry.
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SOURCE BJ's Wholesale Club
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