The Catskill Chronicle

HUDSON VALLEY, NY – ShopRite Supermarkets, which operates stores throughout Westchester, Orange, Ulster, Sullivan, Columbia, Dutchess and Putnam counties, announced a donation of $200,000 to benefit three non-profit veteran organizations aiding service men and women and their families in the Hudson Valley region.

The money raised will benefit The Tower of Hope, The Orange County Veterans Food Pantry and the Committee for the Families of Iraqi War Veterans – all of whom support the many active and returning service men, women and families throughout the Hudson Valley region.

“We are proud to announce this $200,000 donation benefitting these three organizations,” said Tom Urtz, senior director of human resources and consumer affairs for ShopRite. “As the Hudson Valley region has the highest percentage of returning war veterans statewide, the need to assist the individuals who protect our freedom is tremendous. With the help of our generous customers, associates and vendors, these organizations will aid our local veterans and their families as they transition back to their civilian lives. ShopRite is very grateful to the community for its overwhelming support.”

ShopRite’s Veteran campaign was comprised of several fundraising efforts including a check-out counter donation drive, golf outing and casino night, car washes, hot dog sales, pancake breakfasts, spaghetti dinners, raffles and giveaways. In addition, ShopRite vendors contributed by donating a portion of the proceeds from special product promotions to the overall donation.

The Committee for the Families of Iraqi War Veterans provides emotional, financial and educational support for Mid-Hudson Valley veterans and families of military personnel killed or wounded while fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. This 57-member volunteer organization helps veterans cope with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and suicide prevention, offers funding for therapy and rehabilitation and professional consultations to retrain and re-employ veterans back into the work force. To learn more, visit www.familiesofwarvets.org.

The Tower of Hope provides funding to train and care for expertly trained service dogs so seriously wounded veterans can live in greater safety and comfort, and with higher independence. With service dogs costing more than $25,000 per year, The Tower of Hope proudly provides service dogs to veterans at no charge. To learn more, visit www.thetowerofhope.org.

The Orange County Veterans Food Pantry provides food and non-perishable items for the growing community of veterans of all ages and branches of service who have served our country. The County of Orange oversees this pantry and provides a delivery service to the families that have no means of transportation. To learn more, visit www.orangecountygov.com.

About ShopRite:

ShopRite is the registered trademark of Wakefern Food Corp., a retailer-owned cooperative, based in Keasbey, NJ and the largest supermarket cooperative in the United States. With more than 220 ShopRite Supermarkets located throughout New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware and Maryland, ShopRite serves more than five million customers each week. A long-time supporter of key community efforts, ShopRite is dedicated to fighting hunger in the communities it serves. Through its ShopRite Partners In Caring program, ShopRite has donated more than $22 million to 1,500 worthy charities and food banks since the program began in 1999.  As a title sponsor of the LPGA’s ShopRite Classic, ShopRite has raised more than $22 million for local schools, hospitals and community groups. For more information, please visit www.ShopRite.com.