Shaw’s Extends 2011 Food Drive

Shaw’s Supermarkets has extended the 2011 Spirit of Giving Food Drive through Dec. 24, in recognition of its customers’ willingness to contribute. The program, which launched Nov. 18, encourages shoppers to buy pre-assembled food bags at Shaw’s stores for donation to local hunger-prevention partners and food banks. So far, customers have purchased and donated more than 65,000 food bags, equaling more than 500,000 pounds of food -- enough to provide more than 385,000 meals.

“The intention of the Spirit of Giving was to facilitate a means to give back to those in need this holiday season,” noted Mike Stigers, president of West Bridgewater, Mass.-based Shaw’s. “Our customers have a long reputation of generosity, but, they have truly gone above and beyond to make this Spirit of Giving Food Drive a success. They’re the reason this year’s initiative has already surpassed previous years, and why we’ve extended the program through Dec. 24.”

The pre-assembled bags are available at three prices: $5, $10 and $15. Each purchased bag goes into a designated drop bin at every store and then to community food banks and pantries across Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Rhode Island.

With 169 stores and about 21,000 associates in five New England states, Shaw’s, Osco and Star Market are part of Minneapolis-based Supervalu Inc.