By Rebecca Kensil , Contributing Writer
Northborough – Far surpassing their target goal of $12,000, employees from the Northborough Wegmans store presented a check for $26,201 to the Worcester County Food Bank (WCFB) April 29 after the store's successful “Check Out Hunger” campaign.
During the campaign, which ran from Jan. 27 until March 2, customers could opt to donate a set amount such as $3 or $5 or round-up their purchase and donate the change.
WCFB director Jean McMurray praised the efforts of the store and its customers.
“When I received the check in the mail and I saw the total, I didn's know if I was reading it right,” she said. “They really outdid themselves. It is a testament to the company. They really are leaders in this whole issue of us supporting the community. They trained their associates and they took it to heart. Then the customers are so generous and loyal. It was everybody doing their part, which contributed to the success.”
This was the first Check Out Hunger campaign for the Northborough store, which opened in October 2011. Since 1993, other Wegmans stores have raised millions of dollars for other food banks with this type of fundraiser.
“I's so proud of our employees, our neighbors, and our community,” David Orlovsky, the Northborough store manager, said. “It's our first campaign and to more than double the campaign goal, that's a statement about the community.”
“We'se going to do it again next year, that's for sure,” he added.