Stop & Shop Donates $200,000 to CSCU’s On-Campus Food Pantries to Address Food Insecurity

Together with Connecticut Foodshare, Stop & Shop and CSCU Strengthen Support for Students Facing Food Insecurity

October 29, 2026 - News Release

Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) today announced Stop & Shop will donate $200,000 to support the system's on-campus food pantries. The donation comes after the neighborhood grocer marked a major milestone in its fight against food insecurity as it welcomed its 300th school to its School Food Pantry Program. Since its inception in 2019, Stop & Shop’s program has invested more than $10 million to grow its in-school pantry network across the Northeast.

Through this partnership, the Stop & Shop School Food Pantry Program will support the CSCU system in two ways:

$200,000 will go directly to support on-campus food pantries at Central, Eastern, Southern, and Western Connecticut State Universities and Connecticut State Community College (CT State), ensuring that students have consistent access to nutritious food and essential items.
Stop & Shop will host a farmers' market at CT State Manchester, where it will provide fresh produce to more than 200 students on campus at no cost.

“At our colleges and universities, we take care of the whole student. We know that if we want our students to succeed, we need to ensure that they have access to the fresh and nutritious food that fuels them so they can reach their fullest potential in and out of the classroom,” said CSCU Interim Chancellor Natalie Braswell. “Our students balance so much between academic, family, and personal responsibilities. Because of longstanding partners like Stop & Shop and Connecticut Foodshare, we are able to meet our students' needs. No student should worry about where their next meal comes from. We are so grateful for Stop & Shop and their continued support of our on-campus food pantries.”

Eleven percent of CT State’s credit student population receives Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, representing more than 4,608 students.

“Access to higher education without the support students need to succeed is an incomplete promise,” said Dr. Christina Royal, Interim President of CT State. “Food insecurity is a real challenge for many of our students, who are working hard to build better futures for themselves, their families and our communities. Partners like Stop & Shop and Connecticut Foodshare help us keep that promise by making sure our students have access to essential items so they can better focus on their education. We are deeply appreciative for their generosity and their commitment to our talented students.”

As food insecurity continues to grow across Connecticut, CSCU's campus pantries are supported by a network of partners working together to help ensure students have access to the resources they need to succeed. In-school pantries provide students and their families with convenient access to critical food resources in a trusted environment that’s already part of their daily life.

In addition to Stop & Shop’s support, Connecticut Foodshare plays a key role in these efforts, helping supply nearly all CSCU campus pantries and connecting colleges and universities with food resources throughout the state.

“When people imagine their college experience, they are not necessarily thinking about where their next meal will come from. But that is the reality for so many students. Connecticut Foodshare is proud to work with our partners at Stop & Shop and CSCU to make sure these pantries are well-resourced and accessible to any student who needs food assistance,” said Jason Jakubowski, President and CEO of Connecticut Foodshare.

The Stop & Shop School Food Pantry Program has supported CSCU pantries for six years, providing nearly $800,000 in support for students experiencing food insecurity.

“Every student deserves the opportunity to focus on learning, building their future, and reaching their full potential without worrying about where their next meal will come from,” said Roger Wheeler, President of Stop & Shop. “While we're proud to support CSCU through our School Food Pantry Program, this work is bigger than any one organization. It takes strong partnerships among colleges, hunger-relief organizations, and community leaders to address the growing need for food assistance across Connecticut. We're honored to work alongside CSCU and Connecticut Foodshare to help ensure more students have consistent access to the food and resources they need to thrive.”

Established in 2019, the Stop & Shop School Food Pantry Program was created to ensure students don't go to school hungry and can perform their best in the classroom and beyond. Stop & Shop partners with local schools, from pre-K through college, to establish and support food pantries directly in schools so students and their families can easily access nutritious food in a safe, convenient, and stigma-free environment. Since launching its School Food Pantry Program, Stop & Shop has scaled its partnerships to reach 300 schools, which serve a combined total of 50,000 students and families each month.

For more information about the Stop & Shop School Food Pantry Program visit: https://stopandshop.com/pages/school-food-pantry-program.

About CSCU

Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) includes six public institutions: Central, Eastern, Southern, and Western Connecticut State Universities, CT State Community College, and Charter Oak State College. Together, they offer more than 800 degree and certificate programs providing affordable academic pathways for students of all ages. With 16 main campuses statewide, CSCU serves the largest student population in Connecticut, serving nearly 100,000 learners and awarding more than 12,500 degrees during the 2025–2026 academic year. More than 80% of graduates choose to remain in Connecticut to live and work, underscoring CSCU’s role as a driver of the state’s workforce and economy.

About Stop & Shop

A neighborhood grocer for more than 100 years, Stop & Shop is focused on delivering a wide assortment of fresh, healthy options at a great value through strong weekly sales and everyday low prices. Its new GO Rewards loyalty program delivers personalized offers and allows customers to earn points that can be redeemed for gas or groceries every time they shop. Stop & Shop customers can choose however they want to shop - whether it's in-store or online, which offers both delivery and same day pickup. The company is committed to making an impact in its communities by fighting hunger and working to ensure no student has to go to school hungry through its Stop & Shop School Food Pantry Program. The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC is an Ahold Delhaize USA Company and employs over 50,000 associates and operates more than 350 stores throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, and New Jersey. To learn more about Stop & Shop, visit www.stopandshop.com.