A Home Run for Kindness: Red Sox and Food Pantry Surprise School with Game Tickets
Generosity and Surprise at Washington S.T.E.M. Elementary
Over the past five years, the Stop & Shop Food Pantry has provided $100,000 in healthy food donations to ensure students at Washington S.T.E.M. Elementary School in Lynn, Massachusetts, don’t come to school hungry. In a heartwarming gesture, the Boston Red Sox have joined in to celebrate this remarkable achievement.
Triston Casas’ Special Visit
The baseball team’s first baseman, Triston Casas, attended a ceremony marking the fifth anniversary of Stop & Shop’s food pantry at the school. To the delight of students and staff, Casas surprised everyone with 500 tickets to a Red Sox game at Fenway Park for a school-wide field trip. “We wanted to invite all of you guys to a game this year!” Casas announced to the excited crowd.
Casas also posed for photos with the kids, alongside the team’s World Series Trophy and mascot, Wally The Green Monster, adding to the joy and excitement of the day.
The Impact of the Food Pantry Program
The in-school pantry, which first opened in 2019, was among the original five schools in the Stop & Shop School Food Pantry Program. This initiative has since donated over $112,500 to Washington S.T.E.M., making a significant impact on the lives of students and their families.
Jennifer Barr from Stop & Shop highlighted the expansion of their efforts, stating that they now run 235 in-school food pantries across five states in the Northeast. To celebrate the fifth anniversary of the pantry at Washington S.T.E.M., Barr also presented a generous check for $22,500 to the school.
Red Sox Strike Out School Hunger Program
The Red Sox contribute to this cause through their ‘Strike Out School Hunger Program,’ where the team donates 10,000 meals to kids in need for every strikeout thrown at Fenway Park. This collaboration has proven invaluable in addressing hunger among students.
A Day of Celebration and Support
During the celebration, Casas praised the students for their achievements, especially highlighting the 42 kids with perfect attendance. “You people do great work, I hear a lot of great things,” the MLB athlete told the crowd.
Given that 95% of Washington S.T.E.M. students live below the poverty line, the pantry serves as a crucial lifeline. Stop & Shop’s food truck was also present, hosting a “popsicle party” and handing out frozen treats to all students. Additionally, 250 birthday kits containing cake mix, frosting, birthday cards, and party hats were distributed to students in need for their birthdays.
The Mission of Stop & Shop
“The Stop & Shop School Food Pantry program is all about helping students and their families thrive, and the impact we are seeing at Washington S.T.E.M. exemplifies that mission,” said Barr. This initiative is a testament to the power of community support and the positive difference it can make in the lives of young students.
Sophia H.