C&S Generosity Rises with Community Needs: Employees Give During Difficult Times

Keene, N.H. – In the spirit of the season, C&S Wholesale Grocers is bringing hope and cheer to struggling families where the company has facilities and employees.

At the company headquarters in Keene, N.H., C&S employees collected 500 pounds of warm clothing for The Community Kitchen in five days. They provided holiday gifts for 21 families and holiday meals for six families. Families were “adopted” in concert with six nonprofit organizations including the Salvation Army and a local women’s crisis center.
 
“Giving back to those less fortunate is a tradition at C&S,” noted Gina Goff, Director of Community Involvement. “Our employees are generous year-round and are even more so during the holidays.”
 
Other company initiatives:
Montgomery, NY: Warm clothing drive for the United Way and donated to Toys for Tots
Newburgh, NY: Warm Hands, Warm Hearts clothing drive for the Community Action Committee
Suffield, CT: Distributed food at the Enfield Food Shelf
Windsor Locks, CT: Organized a warm clothing drive for Loaves & Fishes
Upper Marlboro, MD: Adopted 11 families through United Way and Head Start Program. Donated money to the Domestic Violence Center
Aberdeen, MD: Collected care packages for 100 soldiers through Any Soldier
Dunmore, PA: Held a drive for the Humane Society of Lackawanna County for items including food, treats, blankets, towels, collars, leashes, etc. Donated to Toys for Tots sponsored by the U.S. Marine Corps
Greater Buffalo, NY: Participated in a toy drive for the Buffalo Women’s and Children’s Hospital
Sacramento, CA: Hosted a Spirit of Giving food drive through the Sacramento Food Bank and adopted a family through Family Services 
Honolulu, HI: Purchased school supplies for children at local Early Start and Head Start programs. Served lunch at the Head Start holiday luncheon
Stockton, CA Donated to Toys for Tots
Fresno, CA: Donated toys to Toys for Tots through the Marine Corps
Mauldin, SC: Provided gifts for Miracle Hill, an organization dedicated to providing food, shelter and hope for orphans and at-risk children
Bethlehem, PA: Donated to Toys for Tots sponsored by military families
Hatfield, MA: Adopted seven families from Safe Passage, a domestic violence organization 
Westfield, MA: Donated to Toys for Tots and held a blood drive
Chester, NY: Donated to Toys for Tots
Brattleboro, VT: Adopted five local families

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national unemployment rate more than doubled since January 2008, peaking at 10 percent last month and creating more demand on local nonprofit organizations.
 
Social service organizations around the country, particularly those meeting basic needs such as food and shelter, are witnessing heightened levels of need. One nonprofit leader,Ann Davis, Executive Director of The Community Kitchen in Keene, N.H. says that she has noticed an increase in demand during the last twelve months. “Some new faces and many regulars who formerly came in once each month are now coming in nearly every week,” Davis said. “Local families are choosing between heating their homes and eating; this has always been the case during the winter months, but it’s exacerbated by the economic downturn and job losses.”