East Boston YMCA Holds Annual Turkey Give-Away With Stop & Shop, Cargo Ventures

On Saturday, Stop & Shop teamed up with East Boston based Cargo Ventures, to sponsor Stop & Shop’s annual turkey give-away for East Boston YMCA families, as well as families from the Social Centers and the Salesian Boys & Girls Club.

For the past several years, Eastie Y families have been the recipients of the generous holiday donation from Stop & Shop through the Massachusetts-based supermarket chain’s Turkey Express program. Through the donation from Stop & Shop, the Y was able to give out over 150 turkeys that will feed hundreds of local children and their families this Thanksgiving.

East Boston YMCA staff and volunteers pose with the 150-plus meals they handed out
Saturday to Eastie families with the help of Stop & Shop and Cargo Ventures.

This year’s event was a little different due to the COCID-19 pandemic and worked on a voucher redemption system in order to maintain proper social distancing and avoid crowds. However, the Y’s parking lot on Bremen Street was still a beehive of activity Saturday with staff and volunteers bagging Thanksgiving Day meals with all the trimmings for Eastie families.

“We know the need for families is greater this year than ever,” said Eastie Y Executive Director Joey Gaeta. “We are thankful for our partners and community for making sure that we are able to get out 150 complete meals to the community. Partners like Stop & Shop and Cargo Ventures are really making an impact this holiday season.”

This holiday season, Stop & Shop’s Turkey Express program will deliver more than 21,000 turkeys to hunger relief organizations in Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Rhode Island. This decades-old donation campaign is larger this year as a result of the increased need due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to turkey donations, Stop & Shop is encouraging customers to purchase a $10 Hunger Box filled with trimmings for a holiday meal, such as Stop & Shop’s own brand stuffing mix, cut yams, cranberry sauce, etc. Customers can take the box and donate it personally to their local food pantry or the store will donate it to their regional food bank. This gift will help fight hunger in the community.

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