USO parades its thanks to Stop & Shop

By LAURA WEICK
Posted 7/23/20

The United Service Organizations (USO) held a socially-distanced car parade at the Meadowbrook Stop and Shop last Thursday to celebrate the store raising the most money out of New England Stop and Shops for the organization last year.

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USO parades its thanks to Stop & Shop

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The United Service Organizations (USO) held a socially-distanced car parade at the Meadowbrook Stop and Shop last Thursday to celebrate the store raising the most money out of New England Stop and Shops for the organization last year.

Five cars drove around the storefront of the 2470 Warwick Ave. Stop and Shop in appreciation of the $14,000 raised in 2019, more money than any other store in New England for USO last year. The store also raised the second-most money of all Stop and Shops in the country last year.  All 460 stores raised $1.64 million in 2019.

For several years, Stop and Shop and USO have had a partnership in which customers at self-checkout kiosks can round their purchase to the nearest dollar. The difference goes to USO. Although Stop and Shop did not have a specific number for how much the Meadowbrook store raised this year, they said all Stop and Shops across the country have collectively raised $640,000 since the annual fundraiser began in later June. The fundraiser will end on July 31.

USO is a nonprofit that provides for services for veterans, current U.S. military and their families. It is well-known for bringing live entertainment to military personnel overseas.

“We are proud to partner with the USO to help our nation’s heroes and their families,” Lindsay Levitts, a spokesperson on behalf of Stop and Shop said. “We are committed to supporting the USO as they offer strength, comfort and connection to our servicemen and women. The funds raised by Stop and Shop will help provide program support to those actively serving and deploying, those beginning their service, those transitioning back to civilian life, ill or injured service members as well as military families and the families of the fallen.”

USO Director of Development Jean Mallon said that the USO typically visits individual stores to congratulate them on last year’s fundraiser. However, this year the event had to be socially distanced.

“In previous years, USO volunteers have visited our stores to support the campaign,” Levitts said. “Due to COVID-19, they decided to host parades outside to be mindful of social distancing while also expressing gratitude to Stop & Shop for supporting the USO.”

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