BAYONNE – Mayor James Davis rolled up his sleeves, donned an apron, and bagged customers’ groceries at a local supermarket on Wednesday, Sept. 17 to show his support for feeding the hungry.
Davis was participating in ShopRite’s “Bag Hunger” fundraiser at the company’s Avenue C store, standing for an hour in a checkout lane, filling customers’ bags with their purchased food items, and soliciting monetary donations for local food pantries.
Councilman Juan Perez also attended and manned his own bagging station.
“This is good for society,” said customer James McGill of Jersey City.
Joining Davis were Joe Pagano, Inserra Supermarkets produce supervisor; Capt. Vanessa Fullwood of the Salvation Army of Jersey City; Kathy Feeley, of Highways Food Pantry; and Donna DeVoursney and Kathy Mittenzwei of St. Mary/St. Andrew’s Food Pantry.
Joe Protocollo, owner of M & R Miller Auto Parts on Kennedy Boulevard, was also on hand and promised to make a donation of $5 for every bag the mayor bagged in one hour, up to $500.
September is National Hunger Action Month and the event is intended to raise awareness and funding for local community food banks, according to Lillian Blackmire of ShopRite.
Blackmire said the event was part of a larger, ongoing effort of ShopRite, parent company Wakefern and food maker General Mills.
“Mayor Davis was more than happy to come here and help us,” Blackmire said.
ShopRite will donate the food items to the Highways and St. Mary/St. Andrew’s food pantries. – Joseph Passantino
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