Warwick ShopRite hosts unveiling Cheerios box ceremony for third consecutive year

WARWICK — Warwick ShopRite customers may see a couple of familiar faces on Cheerios boxes when they visit the store this month.
Employees Gerri Russo and Brianna Shultz, both of Vernon, New Jersey, earned those honors after joining thousands of other ShopRite associates last September in a friendly competition sponsored by ShopRite and General Mills, manufacturer of Cheerios cereal. The theme of this ShopRite Partners in Caring Cheerios Contest this year was "20 Years of Good,"
Since its inception in 1999, ShopRite Partners In Caring has donated $46 million to more than 2,200 charities.
Associates working for ShopRite stores in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania collected donations at checkout and held other store-sponsored events to raise awareness and money to fight hunger.
The month-long campaign raised $1.5 million to support regional food banks in communities served by ShopRite stores.
More than $15,000 raised in WarwickWarwick ShopRite, which raised $15,159, was, for the third consecutive year, one of 50 winning stores eligible to choose two associates, like Russo and Shultz, to appear on the back of 150.000 editions of its 20th anniversary special-edition Cheerios boxes.
On Thursday, March 28, local officials, Warwick Ecumenical Food Pantry Director Glenn P. Dickes, members of the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce and representatives of other organizations joined corporate and local ShopRite and General Mills officials to celebrate the unveiling of the special-edition Cheerios box.
Generosity found in WarwickSteven Hildner, administrator of ShopRite Partners in Caring, served as emcee for the event and introduced public and corporate officials who praised Warwick ShopRite for its exemplary community service.
In addition to corporate proceeds distributed to regional food banks, winning stores were also entitled to present additional gifts to local food pantries.
And during the ceremony Store Manager Jack DeLuca presented a check for $500 payable to the Warwick Ecumenical Food Pantry.
"As ever, " said Pantry Director Dickes," ShopRite steps up as a Partner in Caring to help the pantry fight hunger in our community. To say, 'Thank you,' for all ShopRite does for us is to understate how I feel. I am truly grateful."
- Roger Gavan