Foodlink and Wegmans are celebrating another year of partnership with the 31st annual Check Out Hunger campaign. The campaign began Wednesday, October 23 at 21 Rochester-area stores – and runs in conjunction with Wegmans’ companywide campaign that supports food banks up and down the East Coast.
The fundraiser locally provides critical assistance for Foodlink, the regional food bank and public health organization committed to ending hunger and building healthier communities. The point-of-sale campaign allows Wegmans shoppers to donate a few dollars – or simply round up their grocery bill – while checking out at their local store.
This year’s campaign begins Oct. 23 and runs through Nov. 30.
Back in 1993, a conversation between Foodlink founder Tom Ferraro and Mary Ellen Burris, Wegmans’ Director of Consumer Affairs, helped launch in Rochester what later became a companywide initiative. Wegmans officials have noted that even in challenging times – namely the recession and pandemic years of 2009 and 2020, respectively, shoppers have given in record amounts. Last year, the event raised $687,000.
“Wegmans’ Check Out Hunger campaign has been a critical source of funds for Foodlink for more than three decades,” said Julia Tedesco, President & CEO of Foodlink. “We are thankful this time of year for both the enthusiasm shown at our local stores and the response from shoppers who support our mission.”
“With the holidays approaching, many shoppers are thinking about how they can give back to others that may struggle to provide their families with healthy meals this season,” said Linda Lovejoy, Wegmans’ Community Relations Manager. “This campaign will help our local food bank partners to support families with children during the extended holiday break this year, and will also help to fight hunger all year long.”
Wegmans employees raise awareness of the campaign and encourage donations, but their involvement doesn’t stop there. Throughout the campaign, employees also participate in raising money through special events and activities, such as a cornhole tournament and “Hots and Pops” parties at stores.
Donations help fund many of Foodlink’s food-related programs and support its food-banking operations across its 10-county service area. According to the latest data, nearly 150,000 families live in a food-insecure household, meaning they have limited or uncertain access to enough healthy food.
