Starbucks and Feeding America team up with Food Bank of South Jersey
The efforts will benefit children in Camden, Burlington, Gloucester and Salem counties.
Members of the Starbucks team, along with a group of local Starbucks employees, recently volunteered their time packing after-school snacks and meals at the Food Bank of South Jersey. The visit was part of Starbucks’ FoodShare program, where the company donates nourishing, ready-to-eat meals to Feeding America® member food banks.
As part of its new strategic alliance with the Food Bank of South Jersey, the Starbucks team packed 270 after-school meals, 215 after-school snacks and 265 “kidz packs,” which will benefit children in Camden, Burlington, Gloucester and Salem counties.
Since February, the Food Bank of South Jersey has picked up donations from 20 Starbucks locations, seven days per week, throughout its four-county service area. Donations are distributed free of charge to registered member agencies. To date, Starbucks has donated over 7,000 pounds of food to the Food Bank, averaging 102 pounds per night.
“We are excited about this new alliance and appreciate all the support we have received from Starbucks and Feeding America,” said Joe Njoroge, Interim President and CEO, Food Bank of South Jersey. “I commend the work of Starbucks and their employees for their efforts to fight against food waste and help make a difference in the lives of those living in food insecure households — including nearly 200,000 people in South Jersey.”
Starbucks FoodShare program, which brings ready-to-eat nourishing meals to millions in need, was initiated when Starbucks employees began advocating for a solution to donate unsold food. The goal of the FoodShare program is to rescue 100 percent of food available to donate from its more than 8,000 U.S. locations. Starbucks and the Food Bank of South Jersey hope to bring meals including breakfast sandwiches, paninis, Bistro Boxes and salads to those in need.