Foodlink and Wegmans are celebrating a record-breaking year for the annual Check Out Hunger campaign thanks to the generosity of thousands of local shoppers.
Rochester-area customers donated $820,515 — 100% of which supports Foodlink and our mission of ending hunger and building healthier communities. This marked a $115,000 increase over last year’s total, and the first time in the event’s 32-year history that the campaign exceeded the $800,000 mark.
“We are in awe of our community’s kindness and generosity during this year’s record-breaking Check Out Hunger campaign,” said Julia Tedesco, President & CEO of Foodlink. “All donations support Foodlink and our work to alleviate food insecurity during a challenging and uncertain time.This campaign is yet another example of the many ways Foodlink and Wegmans collaborate throughout the year to nourish and uplift our communities.”
Check Out Hunger is a companywide initiative for Wegmans, but it started in Rochester to benefit Foodlink in 1993. Today, 114 stores host the campaign to benefit 51 food banks in 9 states and the District of Columbia. In total, customers raised nearly $3.1 million during this year’s campaign.
“This year, the Check Out Hunger campaign proved especially vital, arriving at a critical moment when our food bank partners faced a surge in demand caused by the government shutdown and suspension of SNAP benefits,” said Deana Percassi, Wegmans vice president of community engagement and communications. “We are deeply grateful to our customers and employees, who donated so generously for their neighbors in need during this campaign.”
Earlier this fall, Foodlink began to mobilize to address the looming crisis of the government shutdown, and the pause in SNAP benefits that impacted more than 155,000 local residents at the outset of November. Foodlink purchased an extra $1.5 million in food and set up supplemental food distributions to help meet the surge in demand that our network of food pantries and meal programs were seeing first-hand. On Foodlink’s website, searches for food assistance more than quadrupled compared to the same time period from the year prior.
In Rochester and across the country, Wegmans customers recognized this crisis and chose to give back at their local Wegmans. At the Lyell Avenue store, for example, managers shared a heart-warming story of a customer who donated more than $2,000.
Visit Wegmans’ website for a full list of campaign donations to 50+ food banks. Learn more about Foodlink’s mission and our impact on local communities by visiting FoodlinkNY.org.
