Canton Legislators Roll Up Sleeves to Help Fight Hunger

September 29, 2015
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(L-R) State Rep. Tim LeGeyt, Mark Flynn, District Manager for Joseph Family Markets’ Shop Rite stores, State Sen. Kevin Witkos, Chuck Joseph, Owner and President of Joseph Family Markets.

CANTON– For the third year in a row, State Rep. Tim LeGeyt (R-17) and State Sen. Kevin Witkos (R-8) joined Joseph Family Markets last week in the fight against hunger. The legislators, along with other state and town officials, officers, administrators, and volunteers, rolled up their sleeves and participated in the ‘Help Bag Hunger’ event at the Canton ShopRite.

“I am honored to have been a returning participant three years running now in this great event that seeks to raise awareness about the ongoing battle against hunger,” said Rep. LeGeyt. “With one in five children going to bed hungry in the greater Hartford area, we must continue to find ways to do more to help the neediest among us, including raising awareness. I’m pleased to join Joseph Family Markets and ShopRite in supporting our community in this annual event.”

“This event is an incredible way to raise awareness about the fight against hunger,” said Sen. Witkos. “Hunger affects far too many people in Connecticut. It’s shocking to learn about the vast reach of this problem that so many families must deal with. I thank the organizers for putting together a great event and keeping this issue at the forefront.”

“As a local business, we do everything we can all year long to help fight hunger in our communities. Help Bag Hunger Day is an important event that brings greater visibility to the cause and helps raise funds to feed our neighbors in need. We were honored to have the support and participation of so many community leaders, including Representative LeGeyt and Senator Witkos, in our efforts,” said Chuck Joseph, President of Joseph Family Markets.

Throughout the month of September, shoppers have the opportunity to continue to support this initiative at checkout by adding to their bill in $1 increments. Contributions will go to support local food banks through Foodshare. Each dollar donated buys one pound of food for Community Avon, Inc., Gifts of Love, the ARC of the Farmington Valley or Canton Food Bank.

Joseph Family Markets runs the “Help Bag Hunger” event as part of National Hunger Action Month.

“Help Bag Hunger” is part of the ShopRite’s year-round Partners in Caring Program, which has provided more than $27 million to homeless and hunger relief and other charitable agencies since it was launched in 1999, according to the company website. This was the fifth year that the ShopRite Canton location has participated in the initiative.

The ShopRites of Canton and West Hartford are owned and operated by Joseph Family Markets, a locally-owned business founded in 2010 by Chuck and Debbie Joseph. Since 2010, Joseph Family Markets has raised over $121,000 for the local fight against hunger.