The money is from the corporation’s Feeding School Kids initiative, which raised more than $1.4 million to fight childhood hunger.
By Gary Weckselblatt
The GIANT Company presented Quakertown Community School District with a check for $11,523.24 as part of the supermarkets’ Feeding School Kids initiative.
The money was raised by customers at the GIANT supermarket at 901 West End Blvd. who rounded up their bill to the nearest dollar or donated by converting points earned with their purchases earlier this year. GIANT then matched that number.
“We are incredibly grateful for this support,” Superintendent Dr. Bill Harner said. “The GIANT supermarkets play a valuable role in our community as a major destination for our families to grocery shop. And they’re a major employer for our students, who often receive their first paycheck and develop a professional work ethic.”
School districts may use the funds to support meal programs such as covering outstanding student meal debt, expanding food distribution programs, creating on-campus food pantries, and supplying extra weekend meals.
Dr. Harner, along with Nii Tagoe, Food Service Manager in QCSD for Chartwells Food Services, chatted with GIANT store manager Tom Wasko and assistant store manager Lindsey Kouch prior to Friday’s check presentation.
"We appreciate the generosity Giant has portrayed,” Mr. Tagoe said. “It shows that the community cares about school nutrition and the value that it brings not only to the district but the community as well."
Mr. Wasko said, “We very much value our customers, and are pleased to be able to give back to the school district. It shows we are all about the community and well-being of the children.”
Through the initiative, GIANT and its customers raised more than $1.4 million to address the issue of childhood hunger throughout local public school districts in the communities they serve. From Jan. 1 through Feb. 28, customers were invited to round up their grocery purchases to the nearest dollar or covert their CHOICE points into a donation for their local public schools’ food programs. GIANT matched the first $250,000 donated by customers.
Gary Weckselblatt, QCSD Director of Communications, writes about the people and the programs that impact the Quakertown Community School District. He can be reached at 215-529-2028 or [email protected].