Hunger Is Not a Disease

Stewart’s Shops and the Milk Coupons

GNP25

“Hi Bob.  How’s it going today?”

“It’s going good here.  There’s a long line outside here at the pantry.  This place is really growing.”

“Bob, do you ever make it over to Stewart’s on 28?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Well, I’ve got something nice for you today if you can get there.  I’ve got a milk coupon for you if you can use it.”

“Sure.”

This conversation was repeated many times in the pantry this week.  Sometimes the shopper had transportation to get to Stewart’s.  Sometimes the conversation didn’t go quite so well.  In that case s/he didn’t get a coupon.  The nearest Stewart’s Shop is on 28 near the Woodstock turnoff so those whose transportation is limited to bicycles and walking can’t make it that far down the road.

Solid gold, these coupons.  For one thing, we distribute cereal and it’s really nice if we can offer milk to put on the cereal.  This week we offered coupons to 100 families who visited our pantry!

Stewart’s Shops are located within a 150 mile radius of their headquarters in Saratoga Springs, NY which means that food pantries in Upstate New York are blessed with being near a company with a serious commitment to community support.  A family and employee owned business, Stewart’s donates 5% of its profits to charity.

This year, 2014, Stewart’s is giving away over $2.5 million  in monetary and product donations to non profit organizations in the 30 counties where they have stores.

Even though millionaires are fast becoming billionaires and the stock market is soaring, we really are living in difficult economic times…so much so that charitable donor organizations are as stressed as the non profits who solicit to them daily.

Stewart’s is well aware of the long term problems we face as we serve the hungry. Stewart’s  also knows about the stresses  non profits experience as we work to alleviate hunger in our area.  That makes Stewart’s a real angel to food pantries and soup kitchens.

Apart from offering a sincere “Thank You” from all of us in the industry, there are several things we can do to show our appreciation to a company which is committed to feeding the hungry.

We can shop at Stewart’s when we purchase gas, milk, and bread.

We can support Stewart’s on Social Media.

So, I ask you to:  Like Stewart’s on Facebook.  Follow Stewart’s on Twitter.

The next time you shop for food or gas at a Stewart’s shop, can you take a moment to thank the employees of the store where you shop?  A simple sentence recognizing the company and employees for their generosity is extremely important to all of us.

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Peace and food for all.

Thurman Greco