Press Release
BJ's Teams with Feeding America to Celebrate 25th Anniversary
BJ's Wholesale Club Challenges
North Bergen Community
to Help Fight Hunger by the Ton
-BJ's Teams with Feeding America to Celebrate 25th Anniversary-
North Bergen, NJ (October 27, 2009) – In celebration of its 25th anniversary, BJ's Wholesale Club is challenging North Bergen residents to help collect 25 tons of groceries to feed local families in need. In turn, BJ's Charitable Foundation will donate the financial equivalent of one million meals that will be distributed among Feeding America's Food Bank network partners including Community Food Bank of New Jersey.
"Earlier this year, BJ's became the first wholesale club in the industry to accept EBT food stamp benefits, demonstrating our commitment to the fight against hunger," said Laura Sen, President and CEO of BJ's Wholesale Club. "Our 25th anniversary is a wonderful opportunity to continue BJ's support in providing food assistance to those who need it most. We hope that our Members in North Bergen will share our enthusiasm and help us give back."
From October 23rd through November 8th, BJ's is asking for donations that can be placed in the "25-Ton Food Donation Challenge" bin located at its Clubs. Community members are encouraged to donate non-perishables such as rice, pasta, beans, canned fruits and vegetables, peanut butter, cereal, canned soup, spaghetti sauce and other tomato products, and juice. The pounds add up quickly: a 2-pack of peanut butter weighs five pounds, a 6-pack of soup weighs nearly seven pounds and a bag of rice from BJ's could weigh 12, 15, 25 or even 35 lbs.
Feeding America, the nation's leading hunger-relief charity, will distribute the 25-tons of food and the one million meals through its network of food banks to hundreds of food pantries, soup kitchens and other emergency feeding programs to help provide much-needed food to the more than 36 million Americans who live at risk of hunger just in time for the holidays.
"We are grateful that BJ's Wholesale Club is using its 25th anniversary as an opportunity to help provide meals for families in need," said Vicki Escarra, President and CEO of Feeding America. "The last year has been particularly challenging, with the need for food assistance increasing 30 percent across the country, and even more in some areas. The 25 tons of donated food from BJ's community members, along with the one million meals, made possible by their monetary donation, will go a long way to putting food in bellies of hungry families."
About BJ's Wholesale Club
BJ's Wholesale Club is dedicated to providing its members with high-quality, brand name merchandise at prices that are significantly lower than the prices found at supermarkets, supercenters, department stores, drug stores and specialty retail stores. BJ's offers low BJ's Member Pricing on a huge selection of groceries, top-brand apparel and accessories, small appliances, consumer electronics, fine jewelry, and other quality merchandise.
Headquartered in Natick, Massachusetts, BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. is a leading operator of warehouse clubs in the eastern United States. The Company currently operates 184 clubs and 103 gas stations in 15 eastern states. Learn more about BJ's Wholesale Club or shop online at www.bjs.com.
Giving back has always been at the very core of BJ's culture. Through charitable giving, community relations programs and product donations, BJ's supports and enhances programs that provide vital services within each community we serve. In 2008, BJ's corporate commitment was evidenced by a $600,000 donation from the Company's annual United Way of America ® Campaign, over $460,000 in sponsorships of local programs and events and more than $220,000 donated from BJ's clubs. For more information about BJ's corporate commitment to the community, please visit, www.bjs.com/about/community/.
About BJ's Charitable Foundation
BJ's Charitable Foundation was established with the mission to enrich every community BJ's Wholesale Clubs serve. The Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that primarily benefit the underprivileged in the area of basic needs (hunger prevention, self sufficiency, education and health). For more information about BJ's Charitable Foundation please visit, www.bjs.com/charity.
About Feeding America
Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 25 million Americans each year, including 9 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 63,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit www.feedingamerica.org.
