PARTNERSHIPS IN FOCUS
A collection of stories highlighting the impact of the Stop & Shop Community Bag and Bloomin’ 4 Good Programs for nonprofits in local communities.
WELCOME!
Since inception in 2019, the Stop & Shop Community Bag and Bloomin’ 4 Good Programs have proven that actions as simple as buying a reusable bag or bouquet can make a meaningful difference. Through shoppers’ small choices adding up, these two programs have donated over $4,800,000 to 8,358 nonprofits in only six years.
To highlight benefiting nonprofits and the work they do, PS It Matters began interviewing organizations and publishing Impact Stories in 2021. Through this initiative, we have built an extensive collection of articles illustrating each nonprofit’s mission, services, and achievements.
Now, we want to introduce our new storytelling initiative. Partnerships in Focus Stories are designed to showcase the long-term impact of these programs for benefiting nonprofits and Stop & Shop’s local communities. Each story accentuates how nonprofit partners have increased community awareness, funded their services, and furthered their missions through the support of the Stop & Shop Community Bag and Bloomin’ 4 Good Programs.
This book contains the stories of five long-lasting partnerships between Stop & Shop and local nonprofits. For more stories, visit the Stop & Shop Community Bag and Bloomin’ 4 Good Programs website: stopandshop.2givelocal.com/stories.
April2025
BERGENVOLUNTEER MEDICALINITIATIVE
NewJersey
4 years
8 selections
$2,072 in donations
Since March 2020, the Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative has been selected to benefit from the Stop & Shop Community Bag Program eight times In total, the organization has received $2,072 in donations to continue providing free health care to low-income, uninsured residents of Bergen County, New Jersey.
The Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative (BVMI) was established in 2009 by a group of doctors who felt there was a need to provide free health care in northern New Jersey. Many of these doctors volunteered overseas with Doctors Without Borders and felt we could create a similar model in our local community.
For 15 years, BVMI has provided free health care to low-income, uninsured adults in Bergen County. We are a volunteer medicine clinic, meaning volunteer doctors and nurses provide the care alongside a small staff. Currently, BVMI provides free health care to about 1,000 patients. Over 60% of these patients are women
Currently, BVMI provides free health care to about 1,000 patients.
We provide primary care, women’s health care, and diagnostic services We have a case management program, a mental health program, and a diabetes education and prevention program. If a patient needs a service not performed here, we can send the patient out for treatment.
We pride ourselves on providing a comprehensive approach to health care We address the patient’s social determinants of health, such as issues related to food insecurity, employment, and housing. A social worker manages cases one by one and refers patients to social services in our community.
HowhastheBergenVolunteerMedicalInitiativeusedthedonationsfromtheStop& ShopCommunityBagProgramtofurtheritsmission?
First, thank you to Stop & Shop for choosing us for the Community Bag Program. We are honored every time we get chosen Every dollar counts when you’re a medium-sized nonprofit like BVMI When people in the community buy bags, they support BVMI We get excited every time we get the email saying $200 was raised.
As a nonprofit, we rely primarily on private donations, corporate and family foundations, and small amounts of public support from the state and county All donations make an impact and enable us to continue providing free health care to the uninsured.
I also want to note that Amanda Missey, the president and CEO of BVMI, lives in the same community as the Stop & Shop that we’ve been chosen at many times She has numerous bags in her home and is always excited to speak to the store management when we are part of the program She’s proud that it’s the store in her community.
We actually just got an email today saying BVMI has been chosen again at the Hackensack Stop & Shop for the month of March 2025! We’re so excited!
Tellusastoryaboutaprogram,service,orinitiativethattheStop&ShopCommunity BagProgramhassupported.
Oftentimes when someone becomes a BVMI patient, they have gone years without any form of routine health care. First, we perform a health screening that includes blood tests and diagnostics to help us get a baseline for their health profile About 30% of our population is either diabetic or prediabetic
Our 12-month Prevent Diabetes Program helps people on the cusp of becoming diabetic. Since diabetes affects such a large part of our patient population, we have a diabetes educator and a nutritionist on staff Chefs show the patients how to prepare food We have taken our patients on tours of local supermarkets to show them how to read nutrition labels, helping them understand what would raise blood sugar and what doesn’t. Our nutritionist sits down with each person individually and uses plastic food to describe what foods are good for you. Patients in the program also go through a yearlong exercise program We take a comprehensive approach to helping our patients who are either prediabetic or diabetic
We have numerous cases where people have reduced their risk in six months or less simply by adopting a few of our suggestions and getting on their medication. Insulin is very expensive, and our patients cannot afford it We find ways to enable them to get the medication Through education, medication, and lifestyle changes, we are able to help transform these patients’ lives. Many report that they feel energetic and full of vitality. They also are not afraid of getting so sick that they are incapacitated.
Through education, medication, and lifestyle changes, we are able to help transform these patients’ lives.
Haveyounoticedanychangesincommunityawarenessorsupportsincebecoming involvedintheStop&ShopCommunityBagProgram?
A lot of people are not aware of BVMI, so the program helps us gain recognition in our community. It helps us share our story while simultaneously bringing in donations. We always get remarks from neighbors when they see that BVMI is part of the Community Bag Program The program supports us in various ways We are a community-based nonprofit, so getting support from the community through Stop & Shop is what we’re all about. We love being part of the program.
A lot of people are not aware of BVMI, so the program helps us gain recognition in our community.
WhatadvicewouldyougiveothernonprofitsparticipatingintheStop&ShopCommunity BagProgram?
For those lucky enough to be chosen, we would tell them that every dollar counts! Community support is vital for any nonprofit. If you’re like us, be proud and share the news with your donor population. It might cause them to go to that Stop & Shop to buy a bag just to support you! Whenever we are chosen, we share it on social media to remind people that we are part of this program
MACANGELSFOUNDATION
NewYork
5 years
8 selections
$2,051 in donations
Since August 2019, MAC Angels Foundation has been selected to benefit from the Stop & Shop Community Bag Program eight times at four different Stop & Shop locations In total, the organization has received $2,051 in donations to continue enhancing the quality of life for people impacted by ALS, including patients, loved ones, and caregivers.
TellusaboutMACAngelsFoundation.
The mission of MAC Angels Foundation is to help all impacted by Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) throughout the New York Metro area We help people navigate the complex maze of the medical community and support services. We even provide financial grants for people impacted by ALS. The people impacted by ALS extend beyond just patients and include caregivers and loved ones.
MAC Angels was established as the Mary Ann Collier Foundation in 2001 to help people with serious illnesses At a very young age, the daughter of Mary Ann Collier passed away from ALS in 2010 The focus and mission of the organization were then changed to help people with ALS exclusively.
Whatservicesdoyouprovidetothecommunity?
Imagine you receive the news that you or your loved one has been diagnosed with ALS. Identifying and navigating the treatment, services, and resources for persons impacted by ALS can be overwhelming. MAC Angels Foundation fills this gap.
We focus on service navigation to help families identify what programs they may be eligible for. For example, we connect caregivers with support groups We also provide financial grants to help with everyday expenses In the case of ALS, many people think Medicare and insurance companies will cover everything, but unfortunately, they don’t. Day-to-day expenses add up pretty quickly, so being able to offer access to resources and financial assistance is really important.
HowhasMACAngelsFoundationusedthedonationsfromtheStop&ShopCommunity BagProgramtofurtheritsmission?
Funding from Stop & Shop helps us reach out to more people and fund grants Even though the terminology is familiar, ALS is thought of as a rare disease. Anybody who has been diagnosed with ALS or any other illness is looking for folks going through the same thing. At MAC Angels, we provide that connection. There are often challenges for people living in urban areas, such as language or physical barriers It can be challenging, especially if you have limited income or are in public housing
Tellusastoryaboutaprogram,service,orinitiativethattheStop&ShopCommunity BagProgramhassupported.
I want to tell you about a couple living in New York We have changed the names of the couple for confidentiality. As a practicing psychotherapist, Ken had been working with several families and doing incredible work. He started developing ALS symptoms, and it progressed to the point where he could no longer speak.
His partner, Betsy, was a teacher in New York City Unfortunately, Betsy had to make a really hard choice to stop working and become Ken’s full-time caregiver, even though it would mean losing the insurance coverage. Betsy left her job to care for Ken, which is an incredible display of dedication to a loved one. The couple came to MAC Angels for financial assistance and help navigating the medical and social services they were entitled to
We partner with organizations like Bridging Voice, an organization that can configure iPads for people who are still speaking but starting to lose their abilities. The organization can record their voice and furnish an iPad with speech technology and an eye-tracking app, enabling them to continue conversations Fortunately, Ken’s been able to continue his practice We’ve been helping Betsy and Ken ever since.
Haveyounoticedanychangesincommunityawarenessorsupportsincebecoming involvedintheStop&ShopCommunityBagProgram?
Since ALS is a rare disease, people look for any resources they can go to for help. The program has helped us connect with people who maybe don’t have someone with ALS in their family but know of somebody who has ALS We’ve heard of situations where people have seen the Community Bag Program signage or how we’ve promoted it on social media, and it spurred them to contact MAC Angels.
WhatadvicewouldyougiveothernonprofitsparticipatingintheStop&ShopCommunity BagProgram?
Make sure to meet with the people in the stores We know that the store staff teams are incredibly busy with day-to-day tasks, but taking the time to go in and thank them is so important. I also would encourage organizations to promote the good work you’re doing. Whether it’s for MAC Angels or another organization, one bag purchase can potentially save a life.
Whetherit’sforMACAngelsor anotherorganization,onebag purchasecanpotentiallysavealife.
CAPEKIDMEALS
Massachusetts
5 years
43 selections $3,356 in donations
Since August 2019, Cape Kid Meals has been selected to benefit from the Stop & Shop Community Bag and Bloomin’ 4 Good Programs 43 times at four different Stop & Shop locations. In total, the organization has received $3,356 in donations to continue providing nutritional support to children across Cape Cod.
TellusaboutCapeKidMeals.
Cape Kid Meals is dedicated to ending childhood hunger on Cape Cod We work to establish a program in every school where there is a need to help ensure no school-aged child goes hungry
In 2014, Cape Kid Meals was started by David Burns and Pastor David Johnson of Grace Church in East Dennis. They heard about children who were coming to school hungry after the weekend. They immediately started a weekend meal backpack program in their church basement to pack bags for two schools in the local public school system. Since then, the program has expanded from supporting 77 students in two schools to supporting over 1,800 students in 50 schools every week.
Sincethen,theprogramhasexpanded fromsupporting77studentsintwo schoolstosupportingover1,800 studentsin50schoolseveryweek.
Whatservicesdoyouprovidetothecommunity?
Our core service is providing weekend meal backpacks to kids facing hunger. We send nonperishable food home with students who may not have access to enough food during the weekend when school meals are not available. Volunteers pack these bags with ready-to-eat meals and snacks every week. Once the bags are delivered to the schools, administrators discreetly distribute them to students
Our second initiative is offering school snacks. Our school partners have told us that children often show up to school without a snack. We provide school snacks for students to use both during the school day and for after-school activities Each week, close to 800 students access snacks from the program
Our newest initiative is school pantries, which are established within local high schools. The goal is to help older students facing hunger by offering them access to the food they prefer. Pantries can be accessed to take home food both during the week and on weekends
HowhasCapeKidMealsusedthedonationsfromtheStop&ShopCommunityBagand Boomin’4GoodProgramstofurtheritsmission?
The funds we received from the Community Bag and Bloomin’ 4 Good Programs have significantly enhanced our weekend backpack and school pantry services. These donations help us provide essential food to students and families.
These donations help us provide essential food to students and families.
Tellusastoryaboutaprogram,service,orinitiativethattheStop&ShopCommunity BagandBloomin’4GoodProgramshavesupported.
One particularly impactful story shared with us involved a high school student who had been taking food from one of the pantries. He expressed to a school administrator, “You don’t know how much this program means to my family. We’ve been struggling, but this pantry allows me to bring food home and has made such a difference to us ”
Our partnership with Stop & Shop plays a vital role in enabling us to assist students like him.
Haveyounoticedanychangesincommunityawarenessorsupportsincebecoming involvedintheStop&ShopCommunityBagandBloomin’4GoodPrograms?
Since partnering with Stop & Shop, we have certainly observed a positive shift in community awareness and support. This collaboration brings greater visibility to the issue of hunger within our community. Additionally, these Stop & Shop programs contribute to many local organizations that are dedicated to addressing this important cause
Thiscollaborationbringsgreatervisibilityto
theissueofhungerwithinourcommunity.
WhatadvicewouldyougivetoothernonprofitsparticipatingintheStop&Shop CommunityBagandBloomin’4GoodPrograms?
Share information about the program as widely as possible using social media and with colleagues, connections, friends, and family Let them know what they can do by going to Stop & Shop, where they normally shop, and purchasing a bag or flowers Not only are they getting something they probably need or want, but they are giving back to an organization that is helping strengthen their community.
WARMCENTER RhodeIsland
5 years
19 selections $1,911 in donations
Since July 2019, the WARM Center has been selected to benefit from the Stop & Shop Community Bag and Bloomin’ 4 Good Programs 19 times at two different Stop & Shop locations. In total, the organization has received $1,911 in donations to continue serving individuals and families in need with compassion, hope, and dignity.
TellusabouttheWARMCenter.
First, I want to thank Stop & Shop for running the Community Bag and Bloomin’ 4 Good Programs It gives local nonprofits an opportunity to not only get extra funds into their coffers but also to spread information regarding the services and resources that are available in the community.
The Warm Center has been in business for more than 35 years. We originally started as a night-tonight shelter operated by seven local churches Churches would take turns providing a week of overnight shelter for folks in the community. Soon after, the organization needed a more permanent space. The founders invested in the program and purchased a building that became the first single adult shelter in Washington County.
The WARM Center has grown into a multifaceted social service organization, where the Stop & Shop resources we get through the sale of the bags come to light. These resources are used for general operating costs and services like rental assistance. Because of programs like this, we can also help folks get their automobiles fixed so they can get to work. We use these resources from Stop & Shop to close the door to homelessness and keep people housed Our services are a way to help people supplement their budget and enable them to pay their rent and other financial obligations.
Many may think buying one bag is not a big deal, but if you and your neighbors all buy one, it brings in quite a bit of financial assistance to the programs here at WARM We see it as a pebble in the pond If you throw a dollar in, the ripple effect is quite impressive We are very grateful to the community and to Stop & Shop for supporting us. It makes a difference.
Whatservicesdoyouprovidetothecommunity?
We run 17 programs, including housing programs ranging from emergency shelters for single adults and families to transitional housing. We are one of the major providers for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Washington County. We not only have a shelter here in Westerly, but we also have a shelter in Peace Dale and one on the border of Narragansett and Wakefield
We have a community meal site. Folks from Stop & Shop often come to cook and serve meals as part of their commitment to the community. In our kitchen, we do about 40,000 meals a year. We are the sole provider of lunch and dinner seven days a week You can come here at any given time on any day and get a hot meal for both lunch and dinner
We have Community Critical Needs for folks who might need supplemental help. If someone has an illness and misses a week of work, they can fall behind very quickly. With Community Critical Needs, we can help them supplement their rent or utility bills We also help people who are struggling to purchase prescriptions
All of our programs are centered on our values of compassion, hope, and dignity. We find ways to keep people housed and out of homelessness If they fall on hard times and become homeless, we find the quickest way to get them out
All these donations help us meet the needs of the people in our community We see about 400 unduplicated individuals per year who are accessing our basic needs network. This type of funding helps pay for things like heating assistance and prescriptions. Everything goes directly back into the community.
Tellusastoryaboutaprogram,service,orinitiativethattheStop&ShopCommunity BagandBloomin’4GoodProgramshavesupported.
These funds go to issues that may seem simple to most but can become very complicated for our folks. I like to tell the story of a mom who gets a flat tire on her way to work. For the folks we serve, that can be a game changer. If the mom can’t get her tire fixed and can’t get her car on the road, she needs to leave it parked on the side of the road and risks getting a ticket or getting it towed With the help of resources like this, we have been able to pay for the tire to help the mom get back and forth from work.
As another example, when someone becomes homeless, they typically lose all of their documents, such as their social security card, birth certificate, and picture ID If you’re homeless and don’t have any financial resources, you can’t apply for a job or do anything without those documents. These funds often have gone to help families and individuals get their birth certificates and picture IDs. It may seem small, but it’s a game changer for our folks. It helps them maintain stability and become active in the community
Haveyounoticedanychangesincommunityawarenessorsupportsincebecoming involvedintheStop&ShopCommunityBagandBloomin’4GoodPrograms?
Anytime nonprofits can get their name out with a company like Stop & Shop, it has an impact Folks in the community see the level of support we receive, especially having been the recipient so many times. They get to see that the company is committed to the organization and the organization is committed to the community.
I can assure you that to us and to people in the community, it’s more than a nice program It gets our name out and gives us an opportunity to show that even Stop & Shop partners with us! It has had a big impact and inspired other donors in the community.
WhatadvicewouldyougiveothernonprofitsparticipatingintheStop&ShopCommunity BagandBloomin’4GoodPrograms?
The more, the merrier! No matter the amount, it all goes back to the pebble in the pond. There is a deeper ripple effect and a real impact I encourage other nonprofits to really look into this and become part of it.
We have employees from Stop & Shop who come and volunteer on a regular basis. A couple of summers ago, they purchased a grill we could use during the summer They even came and did the cooking! The program can develop into a really nice partnership
VETERANSSTRONG COMMUNITYCENTER
Connecticut
5 years
15 selections $3,509 in donations
Since July 2019, the Veterans Strong Community Center has been selected to benefit from the Stop & Shop Community Bag and Bloomin’ 4 Good Programs 15 times at two different Stop & Shop locations. In total, the organization has received $3,509 in donations to continue connecting veterans, service members, and their families with holistic services and resources.
TellusabouttheVeteransStrongCommunityCenter.
The Veterans Strong Community Center is a nonprofit that I co-founded in 2016. Before founding the organization, I had worked for an Army Reserve program in Bristol. When the program shut down, I didn’t want to stop doing the work I was doing
Today, the Veterans Strong Community Center, as part of the ELPIS Alliance for Veterans, is an information and resource center for veterans, service members, surviving spouses, and the immediate families of our military We aim to give them a place where they can talk to a live person to figure out what’s going on If they are going through a particular situation or crisis, we triage it by finding them the best program based on their time of service, length of service, and discharge status. We also look at programs within the community because sometimes, the best resource for them may not be specific to veterans. Additionally, as part of the ELPIS Alliance for Veterans, we are committed to improving the lives of veterans through holistic, innovative, and measurable approaches
Iftheyaregoingthroughaparticularsituationorcrisis,we triageitbyfindingthemthebestprogrambasedontheir timeofservice,lengthofservice,anddischargestatus.
Whatservicesdoyouprovidetothecommunity?
Our services vary based on the current issues an individual may be having. Sometimes, it is as easy as getting someone a copy of their discharge papers. Other times, there are more complex situations where someone is facing eviction or experiencing homelessness We offer employment resources, refer individuals and families to housing specialists, and help them gain access to physical and mental health resources. We also host events periodically during the year on a wide range of topics.
Unfortunately, we have been helping many families through end-of-life services lately Since we have an older population of veterans, we’re seeing more of that type of situation It is sad, but I am glad we are here to help families through that process.
In the 13 years that I have been doing this work, I have developed a big resource network. Our goal is to be a one-stop shop where people can get concrete answers to questions and warm handoffs to other helping agencies if needed.
HowhastheVeteransStrongCommunityCenterusedthedonationsfromthe Stop&ShopCommunityBagandBloomin’4GoodProgramstofurtheritsmission?
We’ve been doing the Community Bag Program for a while, and recently, we started doing the Bloomin’ 4 Good Program. We use the funds to give out gift cards for groceries, gas, and bus passes. Through these gift cards, the donations go directly to veterans and their families.
Whenever we get the checks from Stop & Shop, it’s like a little Christmas! As a nonprofit, we are always looking at the budget and what we can do. We don’t want to have to cut anything, so we try to budget our money wisely. With these donations, we can buy more gas cards, grocery store gift cards, and bus passes.
WheneverwegetthechecksfromStop&Shop, it’slikealittleChristmas!
Tellusastoryaboutaprogram,service,orinitiativethattheStop&ShopCommunity BagandBloomin’4GoodProgramshavesupported.
Over the holidays, we had a veteran reach out to us. She was homeless and living in her car. Using our emergency funds and funds from the Stop & Shop programs, we purchased additional gift cards so she could go and get some food and pay for gas
Around that time, we started having really cold weeks. We were able to leverage the money we’ve received through these programs to place her in a motel for a couple of nights and provide her with gift cards for food and other supplies She has been housed for about 2 months now She is stable, and everything is looking up for her.
I like this story because we don’t always hear how things turn out. Usually, people come to us, and we help them triage the crisis by connecting them to the right people and letting them go their own way It’s always nice to get a message saying, “Here’s where I am now, thanks to you ”
Haveyounoticedanychangesincommunityawarenessorsupportsincebecoming involvedintheStopandShopCommunityBagandBloomin’4GoodPrograms?
It’s always nice to hear people recognize our organization and want to help I’ll go into the store during a month we are selected, and people see the signs at the register and say, “For the veterans? Yeah, I’ll buy a bag!”
WhatadvicewouldyougiveothernonprofitsparticipatingintheStop&ShopCommunity BagandBloomin’4GoodPrograms?
If you’re new to the program, go for it! Try it It’s an easy, no-brainer fundraiser for any organization Utilize the tools Stop & Shop gives us. They are fabulous! You can quickly download images and share them right on social media. Stop & Shop has been great about putting us in the rotation so that we get to participate at least once or twice a year.
