An Early Thanksgiving for ShopRite

ShopRite’s new #EssentialThanks campaign honors healthcare workers, first responders and supermarket associates around the country who are serving communities through the COVID-19 crisis. The campaign offers everyone an opportunity to show their gratitude by posting a thank you note to COVID-19 front-line workers, either by directly uploading it to a new website or by tagging #EssentialThanks on Instagram and Twitter.

For each message of thanks people post, the Keasbey, N.J.-based grocer said it would donate $1 to regional food banks for COVID-19 relief efforts.

Photograph courtesy of ShopRite

“The COVID-19 pandemic has put the spotlight on what it takes to keep our communities safe and healthy every day and in times of crisis,” said Joe Colalillo, chairman and CEO of Wakefern Food Corp, the cooperative wholesaler owned by ShopRite operators, in a statement. “We ask you to join us in thanking our store teams, warehouse workers, truck drivers, healthcare and all front-line workers for the incredible job they are doing each day by going to work to support and serve their communities.”

All thank you messages should be posted between April 20 and June 30. Wakefern Food said it would donate up to $500,000 during the event, with money going to food banks in Wakefern’s trading area.

Earlier this month, Wakefern, through its ShopRite Partners in Caring fund, donated $1 million to regional food banks to help meet the dramatic increase in demand for food and essentials during the COVID-19 pandemic.