Volunteers from The GIANT Company and leaders from River Crossing YMCA celebrate their partnership with students at the Forks Education Center in Easton. Adults (L-R) are Kayla Tiley, Kilene Knitter, Julie Novick, Carrie Rotolo, Courtney Hopcraft, Ryan Hazelett, Maggie Lester, Greg Azzalina, Alicia Cariotte and Joe Costanzo. (Photo courtesy of River Crossing YMCA)
River Crossing YMCA and The GIANT Company Team Up to Address Childhood Hunger
EASTON – River Crossing YMCA hosted representatives from GIANT at the Y’s Forks Education Center on Tuesday June 3 to celebrate their partnership providing nutrition to young children in the Lehigh Valley. The GIANT Company is providing the Y with over 12,000 gallons of milk this year to distribute to children in Bucks, Lehigh and Northampton counties.
Seven volunteers from local GIANT stores and community relations team toured the Forks Education Center, the Y’s Easton area early childhood and PreK Counts program, stopping by the classrooms to read a story before lunch time.
“We’ve had a relationship with The GIANT Company for the last three years,” said Maggie Lester, VP of corporate partnerships for River Crossing YMCA. “As our YMCA footprint has expanded, so has their support. It is exciting to be at one of our schools with the GIANT team so they can see who benefits from their partnership.”
They read Don’t Tickle the Cow, the interactive touch and feel sensory farm animal sound book by Sam Taplin, which the volunteers signed and donated to each classroom.
“We believe the number one school supply is food,” Lester continued. “GIANT helps provide that so that our youngest community members have the nourishment they need to be active learners and do all the things kids are supposed to do. This year we will be able to distribute over 12,000 gallons of milk thanks to GIANT’s support, and we are so grateful to them.”
In 2024, The GIANT Company provided over 6,000 gallons of milk to YMCA child care programs throughout Bucks County; this year, the company is doubling their contribution.
“We have three specific giving pillars at The GIANT Company: eliminating hunger, changing children’s lives and healing the planet,” explained Courtney Hopcraft, manager of community relations and charitable giving for The GIANT Company. “Providing the Y with milk for their early childhood programs helps change children’s lives and eliminate hunger. We believe that no one, specifically children, should go without, so we are really excited to provide that funding to support a really important program in the community.
“We read to students this morning and saw them play on the playground. It is really impactful for all of us to see the students we are helping feed. We had an amazing time. I can’t thank the YMCA enough for having us.”
Last year River Crossing YMCA served 255,000 free meals and snacks to children and families living with food insecurity in Bucks, Lehigh and Northampton counties in PA, and Hunterdon County in NJ.
River Crossing YMCA (formerly YMCA of Bucks and Hunterdon Counties and Greater Valley YMCA) is a charitable, nonprofit organization committed to strengthening communities through membership and programs that foster youth development, healthy living and social responsibility for all. Annually, the Y serves over 142,000 members and participants at its 12 member branches, 13 early childhood centers, 20 summer camp locations and 37 school age child care programs. River Crossing YMCA provides over $12 million of community impact annually in the form of financial assistance to individuals and families in need and free programming for veterans, cancer survivors, older adults and more. To learn more visit ymcarivercrossing.org.
Information & images provided to TVL by:
Michael Reisman
