Staten Island ShopRites Host Annual Help Bag Hunger Event – Cheer On Local Politicians, Charity Workers, Others As They Race To Determine Food Pantry Donation Amount

Editor’s note:  This annual event was covered in 2024, and also another fundraising for charity event at a time of high uncertainty as new work requirements for SNAP (food assistance) and Medicaid (health insurance for low-income people) were being seriously debated.  While there is some fraud in any system, the new policies have had the effect of bringing the number of uninsured Americans from an all-time high the year prior to what is on track to become an ever-lowering proportion of residents being prepared for an illness or accident with sufficient health insurance. The same is true for SNAP benefits, where many families have been kicked off the program for not meeting new work requirements.   It is simply unaffordable for many families now, and they are also in need of assistance putting food on the table.  Many will also lose their food aid, and, as one of the senators in a Repubican-led hearing on the economic effects of the Trump presidency learned, hundreds of thousands of children are losing their SNAP benefits and health insurance, and many are even more food insecure now than they were just a year ago.  Events such as this one, hosted by ShopRite, have the dual effect of reminding the community, now that it is during the summer and not the holiday season when giving is highest, that these people still need help.  That’s the secondary benefit (the primary being giving the food to the pantries for their members). For those that want to help, reach out to your local Salvation Army, or the Faith United Methodist Church, Seventh Day Adventist Church, and several other religious organizations serving other faiths who also provide food assistance to those who need it. Salvation Army provides sit down meals for just this purpose.  They go out of their way to make people feel welcomed and cared for first and foremost. We will have photos to add after the event as well.  

 

We reached out to ShopRite / Mannix Family Supermarkets with a few questions.   These are below, in bold, with answers in italics:

 

 Is this event something where residents are invited to cheer on the politicians?  Do you have anyone assisting the politicians with their food choices, such as the high school students that run a food pantry? 

This is a public event. The highest checkout total determines the donation amount to the food pantries.

EVENT 8/28: Staten Island Leaders to “Help Bag Hunger” at ShopRite Stores

 

Mannix Family Supermarkets will bring local elected officials, community leaders and food pantry organizations together at four Staten Island ShopRite stores on Friday, August 28 for a “Help Bag Hunger” Supermarket Sweeps Competition benefiting local food pantries.

Participants will have three minutes to shop for groceries, with the highest checkout total determining the donation amount. The winning amount from each competition will be donated to participating local food pantries through ShopRite gift cards.

Event schedule is as follows:

1. 10:00 a.m. | ShopRite of Forest & Richmond, 985 Richmond Ave.
2. 12:00 p.m. | ShopRite of Hylan Plaza, 2656 Hylan Blvd.
3. 1:30 p.m. | ShopRite of Evergreen Plaza, 100 Greaves Ln.
4. 3:00 p.m. | ShopRite of Veterans Road, 3010 Veterans Road W.

 

 

Mannix Family Supermarkets Brings Local Leaders and Organizations Together to “Help Bag Hunger” at Staten Island ShopRite Stores

 

Elected Officials and Community Leaders to Compete in Supermarket Sweeps Competition to Raise Awareness and Support Local Food Pantries

 

In attendance:                  Local elected officials & community leaders

Members of the Mannix Family

Store teams from ShopRite of Forest & Richmond, ShopRite of Hylan Plaza, ShopRite of Evergreen Plaza and ShopRite of Veterans Road

ShopRite stores operated by Mannix Family Markets are teaming up with local officials and community organizations to help raise awareness about food insecurity with a special Supermarket Sweeps Competition, where local food pantry leaders and elected officials will have three minutes to shop for groceries. The items will then be checked out at the register, with the highest checkout total determining the donation amount. That dollar amount will be donated to all participating local food pantries in attendance in the form of ShopRite gift cards.

 

Banner Image: Previous “Let’s Bag Hunger” event with Lt. Esther. Image Credit – ShopRite