Community
Wakefern Food Corporation has a legacy of commitment to the community that spans its 64 years in operation.
The focus of Wakefern’s support over the years has included issues of hunger and the effects of poverty; health and wellness; and education.
Fighting hunger has always been at the forefront of Wakefern’s commitment of giving back to the community. A long-time supporter of regional food banks, Wakefern provides them with in-kind donations, associate volunteers and financial support through the ShopRite Partners in Caring Fund, a community-based hunger fighting initiative.
Through its Partners in Training program, Wakefern assists the underemployed by providing training for entry-level positions in the supermarket industry. In 2006, Partners in Training received the Food Marketing Institute’s “Maximizing People Potential Award.” The MAXX Award is presented annually to a retailer or wholesaler to recognize programs and initiatives that improve employee performance or advance a key business goal.
Wakefern’s community outreach also includes the annual sponsorship of the Special Olympics of New Jersey . For more than twenty years, Wakefern has provided logistical support, food donations and volunteer staff for the Special Olympics of New Jersey games. In 2009, a record 543 Wakefern associates – along with their families – volunteered to support the athletes and the 10,000 + spectators and family members who came to cheer them on.
Wakefern’s contributions to the community extend to many additional organizations, institutions and charities, including annual sponsorship of the Komen Race for the Cure®; support of programs dedicated to the care and education of children, such as the Embrace Kids Foundation and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America; and financial assistance to teaching institutions and local area hospitals, such as St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson, NJ and Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth, NJ.
