Early Registration Begins May 1, 2024

May 1, 2024 [Chicopee, MA] – The Food Bank’s Will Bike 4 Food early registration begins May 1st and continues through May 31st. We are excited to welcome Stop & Shop back for their 9th consecutive year as the presenting sponsor. Through this partnership, Will Bike 4 Food brings cyclists from across the region together on Sunday, September 22nd to pedal toward a hunger-free Western Massachusetts.

Behind the scenes, Stop & Shop’s dedication to end hunger is robust and innovative. While Stop & Shop prioritizes serving its customers, the reality of any retail market is the risk of perfectly good surplus food going to waste. According to Feeding America, the equivalent of 145 billion meals goes into landfills each year – with much of that food still safe to eat. Often, the only reason for its disposal is cosmetic defects or an approaching sell-by date.

Stop & Shop has created an innovative way to reduce waste through its retail recovery program. Highquality food at risk of going to waste is donated to the Food Bank and our region’s food assistance network. Over the years, Stop and Shop has donated dairy products, frozen meats, produce, bread, baked goods, and more – the equivalent of 770,000 meals last year!

Stephanie Cunha, Manager of External Communications at Stop & Shop, says that the company is proud to be involved in the work of expanding food access, explaining, “Feeding people is part of our DNA, and it’s what drives our commitment to addressing hunger in the communities we serve.”

“Stop & Shop’s partnership is invaluable,” said Andrew Morehouse, Executive Director of the Food Bank. “Their contributions through the food recovery program and unwavering support for Will Bike 4 Food are essential in helping us end hunger in Western Massachusetts.”

The 14th annual Will Bike 4 Food will take place at the Lions Club Pavilion in Hatfield on Sunday, September 22, 2024. Early registration begins May 1st.and continues through May 31st. This year’s goal of $250,000 would provide the equivalent of 750,000 meals to the community!

Tungkol sa Food Bank ng Western Massachusetts: Mula noong 1982, ang Food Bank ng Western Massachusetts ay naging kasosyo sa komunidad upang wakasan ang gutom. Nagbibigay kami ng malusog at tumutugon sa kultura nang direkta sa pamamagitan ng aming sariling mga programa (Mobile Food Banks at Brown Bag: Food for Elders), at sa pamamagitan ng food assistance network sa Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, at Hampshire county. Binubuo ang network na ito ng mga independiyenteng pantry, meal site at shelter na nasa front line na nagbibigay ng pagkain at mapagkukunan sa mga indibidwal, pamilya, nakatatanda, bata, beterano, at mga taong may kapansanan, upang sila ay mamuhay ng malusog at makabuluhang buhay. Ang Food Bank ay kasosyo sa pampublikong edukasyon at adbokasiya upang tugunan ang mga sistematikong isyu na humahantong sa kagutuman, na kumikilos nang may paniniwalang ang bawat isa ay may karapatan sa masustansyang pagkain.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Deb Ondo, Communications and Engagement Manager, Food Bank ng Western Massachusetts

debo@foodbankwma.org Telepono: 413-419-0170.