Project Bread, the East-Boston based statewide food security organization, was selected to receive a $10,000 grant by BJ’s Wholesale Club Inc. (NYSE: BJ) as part of the company’s Give 40 for 40 campaign.
Funds will provide support for the nonprofit’s work with school nutrition staff statewide
[Boston, MA] (Nov. 6) – Project Bread, the leading statewide food security organization in Massachusetts, was selected to receive a $10,000 grant by BJ’s Wholesale Club Inc. (NYSE: BJ) as part of the company’s Give 40 for 40 campaign. The campaign celebrates BJ’s 40 years of operations by awarding a total of $1 million in grants to local charities
Funding through BJ’s Charitable Foundation will support Project Bread’s work in schools, providing training and support for school nutrition staff. Participants in Project Bread’s School Food Fellowship engage in monthly professional development trainings and onsite meetings with Project Bread’s Chef Educators, including the development of new staff-led and student-tested recipes that cater to local food sources and USDA nutrition standards. This is just one key example of how Project Bread is working to ensure nutritious, delicious school meals are available at no cost and free of stigma for every student in a state where 1 in 5 households with children are facing food insecurity.
“Healthy, delicious, free school meals are essential for all children, and Project Bread’s Chef Educators are committed to partnering with schools statewide to improve the school meal experience and ensure everybody eats well,” says Shannon Healey, Director of Institutional Giving at Project Bread. “We are proud to partner with BJ’s Charitable Foundation to support the tremendous growth in school meal participation through strong kitchen management, inclusive menu preparation, and robust staff engagement. Our strategy ensures that children can thrive in the classroom today and for the future.”
As part of its Give 40 for 40 charitable campaign, BJ’s Wholesale Club announced grants to 70 community organizations that were nominated by its team members. Recipients were chosen for their local impact in areas of hunger relief, education and health and wellness. Since its inception, the BJ’s Charitable Foundation has awarded over $37 million to non-profit organizations and schools, providing vital support in BJ’s communities.
For over 20 years, Project Bread has partnered with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to support critical meals for students such as implementing and expanding school breakfast after the bell programs, improving school lunch meal quality, supporting school nutrition staff with resources and training year-round, and bolstering Summer Eats program promotion and access across the Commonwealth. This past year, the Project Bread team provided 1,073 school nutrition staff professional development hours, distributed over $73,000 in school breakfast grants and outreach materials, visited 69 Summer Eats community meal sites, and distributed over $636,000 in Summer Eats meal sponsor grants, outreach materials, and promotional advertising to keep kids fed when schools are closed.
About Project Bread
Project Bread is the leading statewide food security organization in Massachusetts with a radical approach to solving hunger. Beginning in 1969 with the first Walk for Hunger, the nonprofit focuses on driving systemic change to ensure people of all ages have reliable access to healthy food. Project Bread works collaboratively across sectors to create innovative solutions to end hunger and improve lives across the Commonwealth. For more information, visit: www.projectbread.org.
About BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings
BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: BJ) is a leading operator of membership warehouse clubs focused on delivering significant value to its members and serving a shared purpose: “We take care of the families who depend on us.” The company provides a wide assortment of fresh foods, produce, a full-service deli, fresh bakery, household essentials and gas. In addition, BJ’s offers the latest technology, home decor, small appliances, apparel, seasonal items and more to deliver unbeatable value to smart-saving families. Headquartered in Marlborough, Massachusetts, the company pioneered the warehouse club model in New England in 1984 and operates clubs and BJ’s Gas® locations in 20 states. For more information, please visit us at www.BJs.com or on Facebook or Instagram.
About BJ’s Charitable Foundation
Established in 2004 by BJ’s Wholesale Club, the BJ’s Charitable Foundation provides essential needs to families in the local communities BJ’s members and team members live and work. Through local and national non-profit partnerships, the Foundation focuses its giving efforts on three main pillars: hunger relief, education and health and wellness.