STCC, Stop & Shop celebrate $15,000 donation to fight food insecurity
Representatives from STCC and Stop & Shop hold a ceremonial check on the ice before the start of a Springfield Thunderbirds hockey game to celebrate a partnership.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Shortly before the puck was dropped to start the Springfield Thunderbirds hockey game at the MassMutual Center on April 13, leaders from Springfield Technical Community College and Stop & Shop joined together to celebrate a five-year food pantry partnership.
Stop & Shop presented its latest gift, a $15,000 check, on center ice during The Thunderbirds’ “413 Night,” an evening dedicated to celebrating the Western Massachusetts community. The Thunderbirds squared off against the Charlotte Checkers.
Stop & Shop’s donation to the STCC food pantry, The Ram Mini Mart, brings its total to $61,000, said Jose Lopez-Figueroa, director of the Center for Access Services at STCC. The campus Mini Mart provides students with essentials such as shelf-stable groceries, household and hygiene products and more.
Lopez-Figueroa, one of STCC’s representatives on 413 Night, said demand has increased for products at the food pantry.
“In the post-COVID era, we have seen a significant increase in food insecurity on our campus and in the Springfield community,” Lopez-Figueroa said. “You can’t get an education on an empty stomach.”
STCC Vice President of Student Affairs Darcey Kemp, who also was on hand to celebrate the donation, said the partnership between Stop & Shop and STCC underscores a shared commitment to addressing the pressing issue of student hunger.
“We are immensely grateful to Stop & Shop for their unwavering support of our students,” Kemp said. “This generous donation will make a tangible difference in the lives of those facing food insecurity, allowing them to focus on their studies without the burden of hunger.”
Stop & Shop has a long-standing tradition of actively engaging with and giving back to the communities it serves. Through its School Food Pantry Program, the supermarket chain reaffirms its commitment to making a positive impact beyond the aisles of its stores.
The night was a celebration of a five-year partnership between STCC and Stop & Shop. The grocery store chain has donated $61,000 to STCC since 2019 and has expanded its program to make donations to other higher education institutions. Stop & Shop’s food pantry program serves over 230 schools across the Northeast.
Stephanie Cunha, external communications manager for Stop & Shop, said she hopes to see the food donation program continue to grow.
“We are your neighbors and live and work in the communities we serve,” she said. “It’s important for us to give back and make sure that students and our communities are thriving.”
Interested in applying to STCC? Visit stcc.edu/apply or call Admissions at (413) 755-3333.
About Springfield Technical Community College
STCC, the Commonwealth's only technical community college, continues the pioneering legacy of the Springfield Armory with comprehensive and technical education in manufacturing, STEM, healthcare, business, social services, and the liberal arts. STCC's highly regarded workforce, certificate, degree, and transfer programs are the most affordable in Springfield and provide unequaled opportunity for the vitality of Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1967, the college – a designated Hispanic Serving Institution – seeks to close achievement gaps among students who traditionally face societal barriers. STCC supports students as they transform their lives through intellectual, cultural, and economic engagement while becoming thoughtful, committed and socially responsible graduates.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu