The money is from the corporation’s Feeding School Kids initiative, which has raised more than $4.8 million to fight childhood hunger.
By Gary Weckselblatt
The Giant Company presented Quakertown Community School District with a check for $10,594.14 as part of the supermarkets’ Feeding School Kids initiative.
The money was raised by customers at the two Quakertown area Giant supermarkets along Route 309 who rounded up their bill to the nearest dollar or donated by converting points earned with their purchases earlier this year. Giant then matched that number.
“We are incredibly grateful for this support,” Superintendent Dr. Bill Harner said. “The Giant supermarkets play a valuable role in our community as a major destination for our families to grocery shop. And they’re a major employer for our students, who often receive their first paycheck and develop a professional work ethic.”
School districts may use the funds to support meal programs. Dr. Harner, along with Cindy Hontz, Food Service Manager in QCSD for Chartwells Food Services, chatted with Giant store managers Andy Edwards and Tom Wasko during Wednesday’s check presentation.
"We appreciate the generosity Giant has portrayed,” Ms. Hontz said. “It is a wonderful community service."
Mr. Wasko said, “It’s just our way of giving back. We very much value our customers, and are pleased to be able to give back to the school district. It shows we are all about the community and well-being of the children.” Mr. Edwards agreed, adding that the stores support community food banks and churches.
Additionally, between January. 20-30, Giant customers participated in “Fill A Plate,” a non-perishable food drive to benefit local public school feeding programs. “Studies have shown the correlation between good nutrition and success in school, which is why we launched our Feeding School Kids program in 2021 to address the issue of childhood hunger throughout our local public school communities,” said Jessica Groves, community impact manager for The Giant Co.
Gary Weckselblatt, QCSD Director of Communications, writes about the people and the programs that impact the Quakertown Community School District. He can be reached at 215-529-2028 or [email protected].