Wakefern Food Corp. and ShopRite Sponsor 2023 Special Olympics New Jersey
Ewing, NJ (June 16, 2023) – Hundreds of Wakefern Food Corp. associates returned to the Special Olympics New Jersey Summer Games at The College of New Jersey last weekend to volunteer and support the athletes and their families. ShopRite and Wakefern have been proud sponsors of Special Olympics New Jersey for more than 30 years, providing meals, activities and volunteer contributions annually.
“Our associates are always excited to volunteer at the annual Summer Games. The athletes and their families are an inspiration to us all and we are grateful for the opportunity to support this incredible organization,” said Karen Meleta, chief communications officer at Wakefern, the retailer-owned supermarket cooperative and logistics, distribution and merchandising arm of ShopRite stores.
Wakefern associates and their families volunteered on Saturday and Sunday, assisting with the games, preparing lunches and working in several Wakefern-sponsored tents featuring activities and gifts for athletes to enjoy.
Wakefern provided the athletes, their families and volunteers with approximately 10,000 meals during the weekend.
The games kicked off Friday, June 9 with the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run, which raises funds and awareness for the Special Olympics program. The run stops at more than 40 ShopRite supermarkets where torch run participants are provided water, ice and fresh fruit.
Wakefern is committed to giving back to the communities it serves through volunteerism, support of hunger relief charities, sustainability programs and more.
About ShopRite
ShopRite is the registered trademark of Wakefern Food Corp., a retailer-owned cooperative based in Keasbey, NJ, and the largest supermarket cooperative in the United States. With hundreds of supermarkets located throughout New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware and Maryland, ShopRite serves millions of customers each week. Through its ShopRite Partners In Caring program, ShopRite is dedicated to fighting hunger in the communities it serves. Since the program began in 1999, ShopRite Partners In Caring has donated $62 million to food banks that support more than 2,200 worthy charities. As a title sponsor of the ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer, ShopRite has donated $40 million to local organizations, hospitals and community groups. For more information, please visit www.shoprite.com.
About Wakefern Food Corp.
From a small, local cooperative that began with eight grocery store owners, Wakefern Food Corp. has grown into the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the United States. Founded in 1946, the cooperative includes nearly 50 member families who today independently own and operate hundreds of supermarkets under the ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Dearborn Market, Gourmet Garage, and Fairway Market banners in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. For more information, please visit www.wakefern.com.
