River Crossing YMCA and GIANT Celebrate Partnership On Track to Deliver More Than 50,000 Gallons of Milk to Children Across Three Counties

Featured Image: GIANT donated 16,000 gal. of milk to River Crossing YMCA camp and child care programs at the celebration of their partnership on Apr. 23 in Allentown, which is on track to provide a total of 50,000 gal. of milk since the partnership began in 2023. (L-R) GIANT volunteers Kayla Tiley, Kelly O’Neill, Todd Woodring, Jeremy Strunk, Maggie Lester (River Crossing YMCA), Tim Santoro and Courtney Hopcraft. (Photo courtesy River Crossing YMCA)

Since 2023, this Partnership Has Provided Nearly 30,000 Total Gallons to Support Food Security in Bucks, Lehigh and Northampton Counties

ALLENTOWN, PA — River Crossing YMCA and The GIANT Company marked a significant milestone in their association-wide partnership on April 23 at the Allentown Branch Child Care Center, 425 South 15th Street. Since the partnership launched in 2023, it has delivered more than 30,000 gallons of milk to children in YMCA camp and child care programs across Bucks, Lehigh and Northampton counties. This year will bring that total up to 50,000 gallons.

The celebration brought together GIANT team member volunteers, who read stories to children in their classrooms and distributed milk at lunchtime. Representatives from GIANT in attendance included Courtney Hopcraft, Manager of Community Relations and Strategic Partnerships; Kayla Tiley-Oxenrider, Community Relations and Charitable Giving Specialist; and Tim Santoro, Vice President of Operations – East Division.

“Supporting kids’ health is one of our areas of focus when it comes to charitable giving, so being here at the Y today connects very deeply,” shared Santoro. “Over the four years of our partnership with the Y so far, GIANT has donated upwards of 30,000 gallons of milk to young children, which is the equivalent of a swimming pool, or 3.8 million bowls of cereal.”

The partnership addresses a documented need. According to Feeding America, 18 percent of children in Lehigh County, 14 percent of children in Northampton County and nearly 10 percent of children in Bucks County are food insecure. Research consistently shows that children experiencing hunger have greater difficulty focusing, learning and problem solving in school and early learning settings.

“GIANT has been a phenomenal partner of ours for the last several years,” said Maggie Lester, VP of corporate partnerships for River Crossing YMCA. “Each year, we’ve grown together to combat childhood hunger and make sure that every child in our programs is fed, happy and ready to learn every single day.”

GIANT’S continued support will enable the Y to distribute nearly 50,000 total gallons of milk through its programs. The partnership provides free youth meals and expands nutrition access for hundreds of children throughout YMCA programs.

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 11 member branches, 12 early childhood centers, 20 summer camp locations and 44 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.

C:\Users\mreisman\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Word\289A9196.jpg — GIANT donated 16,000 gal. of milk to River Crossing YMCA camp and child care programs at the celebration of their partnership on Apr. 23 in Allentown, which is on track to provide a total of 50,000 gal. of milk since the partnership began in 2023. (L-R) GIANT volunteers Kayla Tiley, Kelly O’Neill, Todd Woodring, Jeremy Strunk, Maggie Lester (River Crossing YMCA), Tim Santoro and Courtney Hopcraft. (Photo courtesy River Crossing YMCA)

C:\Users\mreisman\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Word\289A8951.jpg — Kelly O’Neill, manager of the GIANT Cedar Crest store, read the book Monsters Don’t Eat Broccoli to preschoolers at River Crossing YMCA’s Allentown child care center at the Apr. 23 celebration of the Y’s partnership with GIANT. (Photo courtesy River Crossing YMCA)

C:\Users\mreisman\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Word\289A9058.jpg — Tim Santoro, GIANT’S Vice President of Operations – East Division, receives a thank you card from preschoolers and Raylene Poste, director of child development for the YMCA’s Allentown child care center at the Apr. 23 celebration of the Y’s partnership with GIANT. (Photo courtesy River Crossing YMCA)

C:\Users\mreisman\Pictures\Milk Day 2026\289A9129.jpg — Todd Woodring, a volunteer from GIANT, hands out milk to toddlers at the Apr. 23 celebration of the Y’s partnership with (Photo courtesy River Crossing YMCA)

Information provided to TVL by:
Michael Reisman