Keene, NH – In partnership with generationOn, the youth service division of Points of Light, C&S Wholesale Grocers is pleased to announce the results of the 2016 Make Your Mark on Hunger campaign. It was the second year of the campiang and the company provided financial support for both years. A suite of free tools offered by generationOn as part of the Make Your Mark on Hunger has mobilized young people to make a difference, fostered compassion, and developed their leadership and problem solving skills.
When the six-week Make Your Mark on Hunger campaign launched in mid-March, the goal was to engage 10,000 kids and teens across the United States in hunger-related volunteerism. After meeting this goal in the first week, generationOn raised the goal to 30,000 kids, amped-up their outreach, and had engaged more than 33,000 young people across the country by the end of April. Young people rolled up their sleeves to tackle a wide range of projects, including making sandwich lunches for homeless people, volunteering in local soup kitchens, organizing food drives, sorting at food banks, and so much more.
Some of the accomplishments achieved during the Make Your Mark on Hunger campaign in 2016:
- 411 gardens planted
- 132,385 pounds of food donated
- 46,747 community members educated about the issue of hunger
One notable service project began when the Middle Schoolers Unite of Birmingham (AL) Service Club asked a baseball park to host a food drive and fundraiser. Over 650 kids and teens took part in a competition between the baseball leagues to see who could raise the most contributions to “Strike out Hunger.” In total, they raised $1,856.18 and collected 2,500 pounds of food. The food and financial donations were given to the Hoover Helps Weekenders Backpack program.
Another successful project was led by Maya from Edison, NJ, who reached out to schools all over her county to hold a joint food drive. “My favorite part of this project happened when I went to one of the schools and the guidance counselor told me it was actually the school’s first time holding a food drive,” she said. “I couldn’t have been happier to hear that I brought a new idea and event to this school. The kids were so eager and, even though it was a small school, they raised over 400 pounds of food!”
More stories from Make Your Mark on Hunger are available at http://www.hunger.generationOn.org.
Kathy Saulitis, Senior Vice President of generationOn, said, “During the Make Your Mark on Hunger campaign, generationOn was able to raise awareness of hunger, educate kids about this very important issue, and inspire kids to embrace the cause and put their compassion in action through the various service activities implemented across the country. We are grateful to C&S Wholesale Grocers for their support.”
About generationOn
generationOn, the youth service division of Points of Light, inspires, equips, and mobilizes hundreds of thousands of kids and teens annually to make a positive mark on the world through service. generationOn’s programs and resources help develop empathy, compassion, and life-skills through hands-on volunteer activities that allow kids to learn about issues affecting their communities, take action to make a difference, and reflect on the impact the work had on themselves, their community, and the world. For more information, visit www.generationon.org.
About Points of Light
Points of Light—the largest organization in the world dedicated to volunteer service—mobilizes millions of people to take action that is changing the world. Through affiliates in 250 cities and partnerships with thousands of nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages more than 4 million volunteers in 30 million hours of service each year. They bring the power of people to bear where it matters most. For more information, go to www.pointsoflight.org.
About C&S Wholesale Grocers
C&S Wholesale Grocers, Inc., based in Keene, NH, is the largest wholesale grocery supply company in the U.S., and the industry leader in supply chain innovation. Founded in 1918 as a supplier to independent grocery stores, C&S now services customers of all sizes, supplying approximately 6,500 independent supermarkets, chain stores, military bases, and institutions with over 170,000 different products.
C&S community involvement programs support initiatives to fight hunger and to promote the health and enrichment of communities that are homes to the company’s employees and facilities. To learn more, visit http://community.cswg.com.