Stop & Shop presents $10K check to support HCC food pantry
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Stop & Shop showed their generosity during a Springfield Thunderbirds game Saturday night. Out on the ice, they surprised Holyoke Community College (HCC) with a $10,000 check.
'Very excited about the donation from Stop and Shop and what they've been able to offers us,' said President of Holyoke Community College, George Timmons.
These funds comes from the store chains School Food Pantry Program..which started in 2019. It will ensure that every student that goes to HCC's food pantry located inside the Thrive Center in 201 Kittredge Center has consistent access to fresh food. Students are free to choose the foods they wish according to their dietary needs.
'We really focus in on making sure that students have access to healthy foods, not just during the day, but after hours and on weekends when they go home,' said Communications Manager at Stop & Shop, Stephanie Cunha.
This, as food insecurity has become a growing issue on college campuses. In a recent survey from the Massachusetts Hunger Free Campus Coalition, 44 percent of college students face food insecurity at some point throughout the year.
'Food insecurity, housing insecurity, all the things that would prevent someone to a continuing education. We really make a conscious effort to try to overcome those barriers,' added Timmons.
This donation made at the game will not only help support students health but also their academic success. 'Nobody wants to focus on where their next meal is when you really should be focused on the classroom. So that's the goal and the and what we hope to do. Becuase studies show you know that students who have access to nutritious meals, perfrom better at school,' said Cunha.
And as part of Stop and SHop's ongoing commitment to fighting food insecurity, the store is donating a total of $55,000 this year to support school food pantries in Springfield and surrounding communities. This funding will help support school food pantries at other colleges, like AIC and STCC.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Should Massachusetts keep religious exemptions to vaccine mandates?
BOSTON (WWLP) – Passionate testimony rang out in the State House on Friday from parents, children, and physicians on both sides of the vaccine mandates for school children debate. The State House's public health committee heard testimony on multiple vaccine bills, including an extremely contentious piece of legislation that would eliminate religious exemptions to vaccine mandates in schools. Proponents of this bill see it as a way to close a loophole and keep kids safe in schools. Will you be able to get a COVID-19 shot? Here's what we know so far One doctor told 22News that she wants to work with families to ensure they feel comfortable with vaccines, while still pushing to ensure all children are protected. 'We know that children need a cocoon of immunity around them, whether they're infants, or in kindergarten, or in sixth grade,' said Dr. Mary Beth Miotto, a pediatrician. For every enthusiastic advocate for getting rid of the religious exemption, there was an equally passionate advocate to keep it. These parents and doctors testified that disallowing parents from choosing to exempt their children from vaccination is a violation of their freedoms, and only serves to keep deserving children out of school. 'Public health policy should support and empower, not harm and humiliate,' said Dr. Sylvia Fogle, a psychiatrist. Those speaking against the bills say the total harm of their passage would far outweigh their speculative benefit. Those who testified pro-vaccine say that claim is based on misinformation. The conversation around vaccine exemptions is especially relevant as the federal Secretary of Health and Human Services has voiced consistent support for getting rid of mandates. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Ticks becoming more active as weather heats up
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – The weather is getting warmer and the bugs are really coming out. Over the years, the tick population has increased dramatically and it's important to protect yourself from them. As the weather gets warmer, more and more of us are spending time outside. Ticks tend to be very active this time of year, and they can carry dangerous and even deadly diseases like Lyme, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Powassan. So it's important to avoid areas where they could be. Mosquito activity: Effective ways to prevent bites 'Keeping your yard mowed, keeping things from becoming overgrown, and just avoiding those areas. If you're hiking, sticking to the middle of the trail. Don't veer off to where the vegetation is tall because that's where the ticks are hiding,' said Natasha Wright of Braman Termite & Pest Elimination. If you're going into a wooded area, you should wear pants and long sleeves and light colors so you can more easily spot any ticks that may be on you. You should also use tweezers to remove it and not squash the tick, because that could help spread disease if the tick has it WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Cooley Dickinson Hospital's remodel boosts ER capacity by 40%
NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) – Renovations are almost complete at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton. In just a matter of weeks, patients will be treated in a remodeled and new facility. Northampton Concert Series announced for 2025 On Thursday, the hospital welcomed local leaders and donors to tour a new addition to the emergency department. The renovations are set to better serve the community. Dr. Sunny Shukla, Associate Chief Medical Officer, told 22News, 'We have a CT scanner embedded into our ER instead of having to take a few-minute walk over to the CT scanner; there's one in the actual ED. We have trauma-based based here, we have a resuscitation room, and a lot of privacy for patients now.' The emergency department will increase by 40%, creating shorter wait times, increasing patient privacy, enhancing behavioral health care, and even improving the coordination of care in the ER. Patients will be treated at the new addition as early as July. The full emergency department remodel is set to be completed by next February. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
