Ocean State Job Lot makes a record $1.4 million food donation

Ocean State Job Lot, a discount retail chain with 111 stores and headquartered in North Kingstown, R.I., knows many people in New England are starving. Its “Three Square Meals” hunger relief program, which began more than a decade ago, was created to assuage the food crisis throughout the Northeast U.S.

“Our Three Square Meals event is intended to bring attention to and help alleviate the growing food crisis in our region,” states Job Lot co-owner Alan Perlman.

Founded in 1977 by Marc and Alan Perlman, Job Lot has partnered with Polar Beverages, Bank of America, Bob’s Red Mill and Providence Journal Charitable Foundation. Job Lot is expected to distribute 78 tractor trailer loads of food throughout the year to 13 food banks and pantries across six New England states and New York, including the Rhode Island Community Food Bank in Providence, R.I. This marks the largest single food donation of its kind by a private company in New England.

On Tuesday morning, March 25, the first delivery of food was dispersed via a fleet of 17 tractor trailer trucks loaded with 600,000 pounds of shelf-stable food. The public was invited to cheer on the convoy departing from Job Lot’s warehouse in Quonset Point Business Park. The procession was escorted by RI State Police, Blue Knights motorcycle club and North Kingstown Fire Department en route to the various food banks.

Job Lot’s Charitable Foundation also teamed up with the New England Patriots Alumni Club to “tackle hunger” in 2014 and beyond. Former Patriots offensive player Pete Brock and quarterback Steve Grogan joined current Patriots cheerleaders and mascot “Pat Patriot” at Tuesday’s event.

In late spring, another initiative will be kicked off. Ocean State Job Lot and the New England Patriots Alumni Club will partner with URI’s SNAP-Ed program, culinary institutes, Scotts and Burpee Seeds to support neighborhood gardens by providing nutrition education to the community. “We’re leading the fight against hunger, starting from the community garden level, to distributing nutritious food, to then teaching people how to create and eat healthy meals,” said  Perlman. “Together with our customers and charitable partners such as the Patriots Alumni and URI’s SNAP-Ed program, we can greatly impact each step along this food insecurity cycle.  It’s exciting to see our Three Square Meals program grow and become an important catalyst for change.”

Alan Perlman is quick to recognize the donations of its valued customers. During the holiday season, Job Lot shoppers were asked to donate $1 at the register to help buy food for Food Banks to distribute in their local community.  After Job Lot matched the first $100,000 of donations made by its customers, the amount totaled over $1.4 million – the equivalent of 78 tractor trailer loads of food.

KARA MARZIALI is the Director of Communications for the Jewish Alliance.