Greater Rochester-area shoppers showed up in a big way at Wegmans this fall, helping to raise $686,667 for the annual Check Out Hunger campaign to benefit Foodlink.
Foodlink and Wegmans celebrated the 30th anniversary of this critical fundraiser, which supports Foodlink’s food-banking operations and many of its innovative programs and services. During six weeks this fall, shoppers had the option of donating a set amount or rounding up their grocery bills as they went through the checkout line at their local store.
The campaign has donated more than $15 million to Foodlink’s operations for the past three decades. Although the campaign started in Rochester, as Wegmans has grown it has expanded the fundraiser into a companywide initiative to benefit 48 food banks throughout the Feeding America network.
“It was clear from the start of this year’s Check Out Hunger campaign that the entire Wegmans team devoted significant time and energy to making this 30th anniversary a special one,” said Julia Tedesco, President & CEO of Foodlink. “The results are incredible, the effort by Wegmans team members was unmatched, and we are deeply grateful to all of the shoppers who donated in support of our mission to end hunger and build healthier communities.”
All 21 participating stores in the Rochester area brainstormed new and exciting ways to promote the point-of-sale campaign and fundraise, such as employee and customer contests, “Hots & Pops” events and more. Three local stores were recognized for going above and beyond, including the Mt. Read store that more than doubled its total compared to last year. The Latta Road and Ridge Culver stores also earned recognition for their impressive totals, which contributed to an increase of more than $100,000 over the grand total from the prior year.
“Over the last 30 years, our Greater Rochester-area customers have been incredibly generous, donating without hesitation, and this year was no different,” said Lindsay Reap, Wegmans district manager, Rochester division. “We can’t thank our amazing customers and employees enough for their ongoing support and commitment to making a difference together.”
Foodlink addresses both the symptoms and root causes of food insecurity throughout its 10-county service area. According to Feeding America data from 2021, approximately 120,000 people in the region experience food insecurity – defined as a household’s limited or uncertain access to enough healthy food. According to multiple reports, food insecurity increased in 2022 due to the impact of inflation and expiration of many COVID-era federal benefits programs.
