Ocean State Job Lot Sends over 35,000 Pounds of Food to Good Shepard Food Bank of Maine

Food insecurity is real. And it is in Maine. So many of us do our part. It’s nice to know such a large company that regularly sends food to every state in New England, New York and New Jersey, sent the great state of Maine 35,000 pounds of food this past week.

Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation’s “Three Square Meals” hunger relief program

Ocean State Job Lot (OSJL), a privately-held, family-operated discount retail chain with 131 stores in New England, New York, and New Jersey announces the 2018 Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation’s “Three Square Meals” hunger relief program throughout the Northeast. Three Square Meals is the single largest food assistance program of its kind in the region, delivering more than 8 million pounds of food and 11 million meals annually.

Each year, more than 200 tractor trailer loads of food are distributed to food banks throughout the Northeast in each of the eight states where Ocean State Job Lot stores are located. On Wednesday, October 3, the Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation hosted a Three Square Meals celebration at the company’s headquarters in North Kingstown, RI. The event is capped off with a convoy of tractor trailer trucks each loaded with approximately 35,000 pounds of food, marking the initial installment of the more than 8 million pounds of food that will be delivered throughout 2019. Maine receives more than 300,000 donated meals annually. One truck and more than 35,000 pounds of food from the annual convoy were destined for Maine food banks and pantries.

“Our annual convoy represents the important partnership between Ocean State Job Lot, food banks across the Northeast, and our generous vendors and sponsors,” said David Sarlitto, Executive Director of the Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation. “In addition to the goal of providing much-needed assistance to our local communities, our goal is to address the issue of hunger, and to raise awareness that it a problem affecting our state, region and nation. Everyone who participates in this program can help feed thousands of families. I am grateful to those involved and very proud of what our company is able to do on a large scale throughout the region. It is our hope that this program inspires other businesses to do their part to help end food insecurity for our neighbors in need.”

Where do the funds come from?

Funds for Three Square Meals are raised each year between November and December through a combination of in-store customer donations, contributions from the business community, and matching funds from the Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation. Ocean State Job Lot then leverages its wholesale buying power and retailing expertise to purchase food at significant value. The company also donates the cost of operational support, including delivery, insurance, warehousing, fuel, labor and other expenses to ensure that 100% of every dollar raised goes toward the goal of helping those in need.