Brown’s ShopRite Targets Gun Violence

Brown’s ShopRite has committed to helping reduce the incidence of gun violence in Philadelphia by taking part in two simultaneous collections of firearms scheduled for Dec. 17 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sponsored by Brown’s ShopRite; Brown’s Super Stores President and CEO Jeffrey Brown’s nonprofit organization, UpLift Solutions; Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-Pa.) and State Sen. Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia and Delaware counties), the collections, which will be the largest of their kind to date, are backed by Philadelphia Safety Net, the Philadelphia Police and the office of the Philadelphia District Attorney.

The partners have so far collected more than 6,000 guns that might otherwise pose a danger to local residents. The “Goods for Guns” initiative enables owners of firearms to turn them in and receive a $100 ShopRite gift card, with no questions asked.

“Violence in our communities makes any positive strides more challenging, and it affects us all, particularly during difficult economic times,” noted Jeffrey Brown, President and CEO of Westville, N.J.-based Brown’s Super Stores, a family-owned and -operated supermarket chain of 10 Philadelphia-area ShopRite supermarkets. “The Goods for Guns program creates a tremendous opportunity to help the communities that we are committed to.”

Brown founded UpLift Solutions in 2009 to create sustainable environments for underserved communities through collaborations among government agencies, nonprofits and industry. ShopRite is the trade name under which the 46 members of Keasbey, N.J.-based retail cooperative Wakefern Food Corp. operate their stores in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware and Maryland..

Collection locations are selected based on need, and other area businesses are encouraged to join the effort. Saturday’s collection points are the Myers Recreation Center and the Lonnie Young Recreation Center, both in Philadelphia. There is a limit of two guns per person.