Price Rite Marketplace, UB football team to 'Sack Hunger'

18 ‘sacks’ of food donated to local food pantry

Price Rite Marketplace and the University at Buffalo football program donated 18 sacks of food to the New Beginnings Food Pantry at the Price Rite of Amherst on Thursday. The donation is a result of the organizations’ annual “Sack Hunger” campaign, designed to help tackle food insecurity in the Amherst community.

As part of the partnership, Price Rite Marketplace donates a “sack” of groceries that includes canned goods and fresh produce, along with full pallets of shelf-stable food products such as rice and cereals, to the New Beginnings Food Pantry from Amherst Baptist Church. The number of sacks donated reflects the number of times the Bulls defense prevented the opposing quarterback from throwing the ball beyond the line of scrimmage, resulting in a loss of yards.

“Thanks to the generous partnership with the University at Buffalo football team, we’re able to give back to the Amherst community year after year through the New Beginnings Food Pantry,” said Kevin McDonnell, president of Price Rite Marketplace. “We look forward to continuing this partnership and building strong connections here and in all of the communities Price Rite serves.”

This year, Buffalo recorded 18 sacks, and in doing so helped individuals and families facing food insecurity throughout Amherst and surrounding areas.

“Our team is proud to call Buffalo and Western New York home, and we are thankful to be able to support the community through hunger-fighting initiatives like ‘Sack Hunger,’ ” said Pete Lembo, head coach of the University at Buffalo football team. “We’re excited to continue our partnership with Price Rite Marketplace to support the New Beginnings Food Pantry again this year.”

The “Sack Hunger” program kicked off in September 2018 as an integrated relationship with University at Buffalo Athletics and its multimedia rights holder, Learfield’s Bulls Sports Properties. Since the program’s inception, more than 160 sacks and 20 pallets of food have been donated to the New Beginnings Food Pantry.

A press release stated, “Price Rite Marketplace is a committed member of the local community, and fighting hunger is at the heart of Price Rite Marketplace’s charitable giving. Price Rite fights food insecurity through its support of local food banks, its annual ‘Check-Out Hunger’ fundraising campaign, and its partnership with Feed The Children – contributing approximately $500,000 annually to local food banks and food pantries to benefit families in need within the communities its stores serve.

For more information, visit www.priceritemarketplace.com.