By Delaney Crawford
The ShopRite of Marmora has earned a sweet spot on your breakfast table this spring. After raising an impressive $11,000 during ShopRite’s annual “Partners In Caring Cheerios Contest,” the Marmora team secured a coveted feature on a limited-edition Cheerios box, honoring their efforts in the fight against hunger.
Owned and operated by Village Super Market and the Sumas family, ShopRite of Marmora is one of just 47 stores recognized in this friendly fundraising competition among nearly 270 ShopRite locations. Held in partnership with General Mills during Hunger Action Month in September, this annual initiative empowers ShopRite stores to raise money for local food banks and hunger-fighting organizations in their areas.
According to Feeding America, more than 34 million people in the United States – including 9 million children – are food insecure. That means millions of families are unsure of where their next meal will come from, often forced to choose between food and other basic needs like rent or medicine.
While this issue may feel overwhelming, programs like the “ShopRite Partners In Caring” initiative prove that local action can have a powerful impact. Every dollar raised during the contest helps stock the shelves of food banks and pantries in the communities these stores serve. In Marmora, that means directly supporting neighbors and families in Cape May and Atlantic Counties who need it most.
This yearly fundraising campaign shows that fighting hunger is something ShopRite takes personally. Since the program’s founding in 1999, “Partners In Caring” has raised over $65 million for hunger-fighting organizations. This year alone, more than $1.3 million was raised across all participating locations.
A friendly competition for a good cause, with a fun twist for the winners, makes it easy for stores to rally their teams year after year. Associates from the top fundraising stores, including Marmora, are featured on the special Cheerios boxes sold at ShopRite stores this spring. The ShopRite of Marmora associates who will be featured on the Cheerios boxes are Camille DiGiuseppe and Kylie DeCree.
“Being recognized as one of the top fundraising stores is a tremendous honor for the entire ShopRite of Marmora team,” said the Marmora staff. “It reflects the store’s strong commitment to giving back and the overwhelming support from associates and customers alike.”
A lot of planning and community involvement went into raising the $11,000 this year. The Marmora team hosted a children’s face painting event, numerous bake sales, and community car washes, along with pretzel and hot dog sales offered outside the store for shoppers to enjoy. It was a true group effort and one that clearly paid off.
“The families that own and operate ShopRite stores live and work in the neighborhoods they serve,” the ShopRite team added. “They care about their community and share a commitment to investing in the future and helping those suffering from food insecurity.”
In addition to being featured on a special-edition Cheerios box this spring, the Marmora store will also make a special donation to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, South Jersey branch.
“The Community FoodBank of New Jersey – South is a trusted and impactful partner in the fight against hunger,” the ShopRite team shared. “The ShopRite of Marmora is proud to support them and help make an immediate and meaningful impact on neighbors in need.”
To celebrate this impactful contribution to fighting hunger in our local community, and to honor the efforts of the ShopRite of Marmora staff, an in-store celebration was hosted on Wednesday, April 23 at noon. Here, they unveiled the limited-edition Cheerios box featuring the store associates and formally presented the donation to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey – South. The event fostered camaraderie and recognized both the hard work of each employee and the generosity of the store’s customers who helped make this campaign a success.
While the goal of this annual fundraising initiative is, of course, to raise money for food-insecure families in each participating ShopRite community, there is also hope that others will see, hear, and be inspired to help out in their own ways.
“We hope that our customers see the power of community action,” the ShopRite team reflected. “Every donation, no matter how small, adds up to something greater. We want our customers to feel proud of the role they played and to understand that they helped put food on the table for someone in need.”
In the end, it’s not just about a box of cereal. It’s about what that box represents: compassion, teamwork, and the power of a community that cares. Thanks to the team at ShopRite of Marmora, that message will now sit proudly on shelves and in homes, reminding us all that hunger is everyone’s fight and, together, we can win.
