The Greater Boston Food Bank Partners with BJ’s Wholesale Club on Growing Healthy Futures Campaign

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Greater Boston Food Bank Partners with BJ’s Wholesale Club on Growing Healthy Futures Campaign

BJ’s Charitable Foundation to match up to $250,000 to support hunger relief efforts

BOSTON, MA (June 5, 2024) – The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB), the largest hunger-relief organization in New England, has announced a new partnership with BJ’s Wholesale Club Inc. (NYSE: BJ), a leading operator of membership warehouse clubs, renewing a summer fundraising campaign called Growing Healthy Futures: nourished by BJ’s Charitable Foundation.

Through August, BJ’s Charitable Foundation will generously match all gifts up to $250,000. Funds raised will bolster GBFB’s extensive network of partner agencies across the region, enabling children, students, and families impacted by rising food costs and the lasting economic repercussions of inflation to reemerge stronger than before.

“BJ’s Wholesale Club has been committed to taking care of the families who depend on us for 40 years,” said Bob Eddy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, BJ’s Wholesale Club. “We are proud to deepen our partnership with the Greater Boston Food Bank to support families in the communities where our company started.”

With its beginnings in Medford, Massachusetts and now headquartered in Marlborough, BJ’s Wholesale Club is focused on serving its members and helping families meet their essential needs by providing access to nutritious food and supporting education and health and wellness. The company has partnered with Feeding America for more than 15 years, providing over 130 million meals to families in communities where it operates. In 2023 the BJ’s Charitable Foundation committed over $1 million to Feeding America food banks, including GBFB. 

Nineteen BJ’s clubs in Eastern Massachusetts also participate in GBFB’s retail donation food rescue program by donating unsold fresh food to more than 30 different GBFB partner agencies as part of the BJ’s Feeding Communities program. More than 4 million pounds of food has been donated by BJ’s in the past five years. 

According to GBFB’s recently released 2024 report called Food Equity and Access in Massachusetts, as many as 1 in 3 children in Massachusetts experienced food insecurity at some point in 2023. Summer is a particularly difficult time for families facing hunger, as children, teens, and even college students are not receiving the regular free school meals they get when school is in session. GBFB’s Growing Healthy Futures campaign supports the food bank’s commitment to distributing healthy meals so students and families have access to nutritious food all summer long so they can continue to grow, learn, and thrive. 

“We are incredibly grateful for BJ’s support and generosity in our shared mission to mitigate food insecurity,” said Catherine D’Amato, president and CEO of GBFB. “Their dedication and generosity empowers us to make a tangible difference in the lives of so many in need and will be instrumental in supporting our hunger-relief efforts, with a particular focus on providing nourishment to vulnerable children, students, and families facing significant challenges. Together, we are forging a path towards a future where hunger is no longer a barrier to thriving communities.” 

To learn more and contribute to the Growing Healthy Futures campaign, visit www.GBFB.org/Summer.

About The Greater Boston Food Bank 

The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) is the largest hunger-relief organization in New England and one of the largest food banks in the country. For nearly half a century, GBFB has fueled Eastern Massachusetts’ hunger-relief system, putting nearly 90 million healthy meals on tables across the region each year. Over 600 community-based pantries and other local partners in 190 cities and towns depend on GBFB to provide access to healthy food for 600,000 people every month. GBFB is committed to the belief that access to healthy food is a human right regardless of an individual’s circumstances. Through policy, partnerships, and providing free, nutritious, and culturally responsive food, GBFB is committed to addressing the root causes of food insecurity while promoting racial, gender and economic equity in food access. Together, we have the power to end hunger here. For more information and to help us help others, visit us at GBFB.org, follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@gr8bosfoodbank) and Instagram, or call us at 617.427.5200.  

About BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc.

BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: BJ) is a leading operator of membership warehouse clubs focused on delivering significant value to its members and serving a shared purpose: “We take care of the families who depend on us.” The company provides a wide assortment of fresh foods, produce, a full-service deli, fresh bakery, household essentials and gas. In addition, BJ’s offers the latest technology, home decor, small appliances, apparel, seasonal items and more to deliver unbeatable value to smart-saving families. Headquartered in Marlborough, Massachusetts, the company pioneered the warehouse club model in New England in 1984 and operates 244 clubs and 176 BJ’s Gas® locations in 20 states. For more information, please visit us at www.BJs.com or on Facebook or Instagram.

Media Contact
Nate Hillyer
The Castle Group 
M 860.574.5507 

BJ’s Wholesale Club Media Contact
Kirk Saville
Head of Corporate Communications
ksaville@bjs.com
774-512-5597

 ###