Market 32, Price Chopper Announce Results of Spring and Summer Hunger Relief Efforts

Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. – In recognition of Hunger Action Month, Market 32 and Price Chopper announced the results of two spring and summer efforts.

Through the annual Fill a Glass with Hope/Fill a Plate with Promise campaign in partnership with American Dairy Association North East and Garelick Farms, customers, teammates, and partners raised $53,685 for regional food banks across the company's six-state footprint. Additionally, in-season promotions with four regional professional baseball teams generated 15,960 meals for food banks serving their local communities.

"Through our partnership with American Dairy Association North East and Garelick Farms, along with our fantastic baseball partners, we're turning the excitement of the game and the generosity of our customers into meaningful support for families facing food insecurity," said Blaine Bringhurst, Market 32 and Price Chopper president. “Every meal donated represents an opportunity to make a difference for a family in need. Together, we're helping provide nutritious food and the meals families need to fuel active, healthy days."

During this year's Fill a Glass with Hope/Fill a Plate with Promise campaign, shoppers were invited to round up their change at checkout, resulting in $53,776 in donations. Market 32 and Price Chopper contributed an additional $10,000 match, providing critical funds to help regional food banks purchase milk and other nutritious food for families in need. Of the total raised, $40,332 was distributed across 11 food banks local to Market 32 and Price Chopper stores, while $13,444 funded 6,722 half-gallons of milk for children and families facing food insecurity. This adds to the total of more than 1 million servings of milk that have been donated as part of the 11-year partnership with American Dairy Association North East.

"Dairy farmers know that nourishing our communities means making sure families have access to nutritious foods, including milk," said John Chrisman, CEO of American Dairy Association North East. “For more than a decade, we've been proud to work alongside Market 32 and Price Chopper to help bring fresh milk and other nutritious foods to families facing food insecurity. The generosity behind this year's campaign is another powerful example of what can happen when farmers, retailers and communities work together to make a difference."

Beyond the round-up campaign, a series of in-season promotions with four regional professional baseball teams brought fans, athletes, and teams together across spring and summer to turn game excitement into meaningful community impact that resulted in 15,960 meals donated.

At Heritage Financial Park in Wappingers Falls, NY, 100 meals were donated every time the Hudson Valley Renegades––High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees––won at home. The team's 29 wins totaled 2,900 meals across the season.

When the Syracuse Mets––Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets––won at their home field of NBT Bank Stadium, Market 32 and Price Chopper donated 100 meals to the Food Bank of Central New York, generating 4,700 meals total.

Through a partnership with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies––Double-A affiliate of the New York Mets––with every home run hit, 100 meals were donated to the Food Bank of the Southern Tier, totaling 6,200 meals.

At Frontier League Tri-City Valleycats games, Market 32 and Price Chopper donated 100 meals to the Regional Food Bank with every run scored at home, resulting in 2,860 meals across 50 home games.

 

 

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Pittsfield Seeks CPA Funds for Bike Racks, AED

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city plans to apply for Community Preservation Act funds for park bike racks and an AED machine at the pickleball fields. 

On Tuesday, the Parks Commission endorsed Pittsfield’s applications for CPA funds. 

"Both of those projects are certainly, relative to CPA funds, low cost but high benefit," Commissioner Anthony DeMartino said. 

Through CPA, bike racks are proposed for a few city parks, and the Berkshire Mountain Pickleball league is looking to place an automatic external defibrillator at the Benedict Avenue pickleball fields. 

Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Manager James McGrath and Recreation & Special Events Coordinator Jennifer VanBramer presented the two small project applications, which will go through an eligibility period before full consideration in the spring of 2027. 

During the city’s free, six-week, summer playground program, it was observed that many kids access parks by bicycle. The plan is to buy between six and eight racks to be placed at Durant Park, the Common, and Clapp Park; other parks are being considered as well. 

McGrath explained that the three parks hosting the playground program don’t have bike racks, and they wind up on the ground and sometimes become a distraction. 

"The ancillary benefit to having bike racks is that it encourages that mode of transportation for folks that want to come to the park on their bike," he said. 

View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories