Origins:
Our Stop & Shop School Food Pantry Program is more than a hunger relief initiative; it’s a long-term investment in student success, health, and community wellbeing. Established in 2019, the program was created to ensure students don’t go to school hungry and can perform their best in the classroom – and beyond. We partner with local schools from pre-K through college to establish and support food pantries directly in schools so that students can get easy access to nutritious food for themselves and their families. By offering a place that is safe, convenient, and free of stigma to get the help they need, we’re not just giving students access to food – we’re giving them access to opportunity.
As food insecurity continues to rise, the program has become an essential support system for thousands of students and families. The program now supports more than 290 schools across 5 states, serving over 49,500 students and families each month.
Recent program milestones include the following:
• In 2025, Stop & Shop opened its first in-school pantry located on Native American territory in the Shinnecock Nation, supported by a $12,500 donation and installation of a commercial refrigerator.
• Stop & Shop became the Official Grocery Store of the NY Mets, partnering on 15 food distribution events at school pantry sites across Queens and Long Island, serving more than 2,600 families. By engaging the Mets’ mascots, food truck, and players at these events, we helped to reduce stigma and bring joy to communities in need.
Contribution:
Since 2019, Stop & Shop has donated over $9 million to establish and support in-school food pantries through this program. Associate engagement is central to the program and Stop & Shop teams volunteer throughout the year to help with things like installing shelving or commercial refrigerators, or to pack bags of food for distribution. For example, at Connecticut State Colleges & Universities, associates assembled 1,000 midterm care packages filled with nutritious food and handwritten notes of encouragement. Each pantry is also paired with a Stop & Shop store, which provide assistance with placing orders, collecting donations via bins and other fundraisers, and volunteer support. In addition to company involvement, the operation of each pantry is a dedicated effort on behalf of school administrators, staff including guidance counselors and family liaisons, parents, and volunteers, to ensure shelves are stocked and to execute regular distributions to students in need and their families.
Objectives:
The brand’s signature giving program was established in 2019 to ensure students don’t go to school hungry and can perform their best in the classroom – and beyond. By building and supporting accessible pantries located directly in school environments, Stop & Shop is meeting families where they are, with a goal of fostering spaces that feel comfortable and free of stigma, to ensure students can focus on learning instead of worrying about where their next meal will come from. Stop & Shop is ultimately working towards supporting at least one in-school pantry in every community we serve.
Impact:
Our Stop & Shop School Food Pantry Program provides access to nutritious food and personal care items for nearly 50,000 students and their families each month. According to a survey of Stop & Shop School Food Pantry partners conducted in early 2026, participating schools shared the following successes: 46% reported increased student attendance, 30% saw improved grades and academic performance, 79% said the pantry improved school culture and morale among students and faculty, 29% reported fewer visits to the nurse’s office related to hunger or skipped meals, 18% reported decreased behavioral issues, and 87% said the program helped reduce the stigma surrounding food insecurity within their school communities. These findings demonstrate that our school food pantries do far more than provide meals; they create environments where students and their families feel supported, included, and empowered to succeed.
Quote:
“As a neighborhood grocer, we feel a deep responsibility to support the communities we serve, and that starts with ensuring students have access to the food they need to thrive. Hunger affects a child’s ability to focus, learn, and succeed. No student should have to sit in a classroom distracted by an empty stomach or uncertain about their next meal. With the Stop & Shop School Food Pantry Program, we’re doing our part to build and fill school food pantries, helping us to fuel brighter futures.” - Roger Wheeler, President, Stop & Shop
Support Statement:
“This program has been more than financial support, it has been an investment in the health, development and future success of our children. We are deeply grateful for Stop & Shop’s commitment to community wellness and childhood development. The impact of this program is evident in our classrooms and in the daily lives of our families.”
Migdalia Otero-Terry, Shinnecock Indian Nation Staff
“Food and hygiene products are scarce to the point that when a child was asked what she wanted for Christmas her reply was ‘I wish I could get a new toothbrush’. Since our food pantry was established, we have seen this student's entire personality change. She now has access to food for supper on weeknights and weekends. She is more engaging in the classroom and her grades are up. Thanks to Stop & Shop her hunger issues have significantly decreased. program.”
- Patricia Picano, Administrative Assistant at Mount Pleasant Academy’
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