Big Y Honored By Conn. Food Bank for Providing 1M Meals

The Connecticut Food Bank is recognizing Big Y World Class Markets for providing food and funds for more than 1 million meals since 1998. On average Big Y delivers more than 20,000 pounds of food weekly to the Connecticut Food Bank to be distributed amongst its member programs. In addition, Big Y has also made significant financial contributions to the Food Bank and their employees volunteer weekly at the Connecticut Food Bank’s Wallingford Distribution Center.

Big Y leadership and 35 volunteers from local stores will attend the Food Bank’s presentation and spend the evening helping sort products in the distribution center.

 

2016 Bozzuto’s Inc. Dream Ride

2016 Bozzuto’s Inc. Dream Ride

Started in 2001, Bozzutos’ Dream Ride is an annual multi-day event held to benefit the Special Olympics. Thousands of motorcyclists and engine enthusiasts trek to Farmington to support and honor men, women, and children living with intellectual disabilities in the community. Since its start as a motorcycle and car show, the Dream Ride experience has evolved into much more. Now the event boasts live entertainment and music, raffles, vendors, celebrity appearances and even a pet adoption center.

Bozzuto’s is a family owned wholesale distributor located in Cheshire, Connecticut. For over 70 years they’ve provided goods and services to New England retailers. In 1955, Adam Bozzuto was the leader in bringing the Special Olympic Games to Yale University in New Haven. His enthusiasm was passed down to his son Michael, who in 2001 held the first ever Dream Ride event to benefit the Special Olympics. Since then the event has helped raise awareness and funds for the Special Olympics and has become a highly anticipated fundraiser throughout the Northeast and New England.

This past year the event raised a record breaking amount of $1.5 million dollars which brought the total amount of money donated to date up to $6.2 million. Held at the Farmington Polo Club from August 26-28th, motorcyclists, engine enthusiast and Special Olympics athletes gathered to embark on a “Dream Cruise” in a variety of classic and modern exotic cars. Following the cruise athletes strutted down the red carpet to attend the Dream Ride Party. The event is held annually in the last weekend of August. If you would like to get involved in the 2017 Dream Ride, please contact hometownfoundation@bozzutos.com.

Foodshare’s 13th Annual Convoy for Caring

Foodshare’s 13th Annual Convoy for Caring

On Tuesday September 20th Foodshare embarked on their 13th Convoy for Caring event. This year the Foodshare convoy departed with 24 tractor trailers, 4 times the amount of when they first started. The Convoy for Caring’s mission is to give back to the Greater Hartford community and make a lasting contribution on the fight against hunger. The event is a way for Foodshare to say thank you to all its local food industry partners who contribute to their mission throughout the year.

Founder of the Convoy for Caring, Jim Oswald, said their first event 13 years ago consisted of just some coffee and Doughnuts. Now, following a recognition breakfast at the Sheraton, a convoy of trucks drive over 21 miles carrying donated food to help feed and raise awareness for the 137,000 people in the Greater Hartford area who are food insecure. The convoy is not a sole delivery though, many companies donate food throughout the year which helps Foodshare achieve its goals. In the past year alone the convoy was able to feed over 6,400 families in need.

Over 70% of the food donated to Foodshare comes from Connecticut grocers like Stop and Shop, Big Y Foods, Inc., ShopRite, Price Chopper/Market 32, Geissler’s Supermarket, Highland Park Market and Freshpoint. This allows Foodshare to provide about 25 meals for every $10 donation. The convoy relies on the local food industry for support and boasts over 20 participants.

This years’ event had a focus on providing milk to more families in need. Since it is highly perishable, milk is one of the least donated products. Recently a voucher system was set in place to allow needy families to purchase milk from supermarkets and stores. If you would like to learn more about how to help visit Foodshare.org for more information.