Shoppers across the Rochester area helped set a new fundraising record in the fight against hunger.
Wegmans customers raised $820,515 for Foodlink through this year’s Check Out Hunger campaign, marking the highest total in the program’s 32-year history.
The total topped last year’s campaign by $115,000 and marked the first time donations exceeded $800,000. All of the money raised supports Foodlink’s mission of ending hunger and building healthier communities.
“We are in awe of our community’s kindness and generosity during this year’s record-breaking Check Out Hunger campaign,” said Julia Tedesco, Foodlink’s president and CEO. “All donations support Foodlink and our work to alleviate food insecurity during a challenging and uncertain time.”
The donations came from customers at 21 Wegmans stores in the Rochester area. Check Out Hunger began locally in 1993 and has since grown into a companywide effort.
Today, 114 Wegmans stores take part in the campaign, benefiting 51 food banks across nine states and Washington, D.C. Nationwide, customers raised nearly $3.1 million this year.
“This year, the Check Out Hunger campaign proved especially vital,” said Deana Percassi, Wegmans vice president of community engagement and communications. She pointed to a surge in need tied to a government shutdown and the suspension of SNAP benefits.
That disruption affected more than 155,000 local residents at the start of November.
Foodlink began preparing earlier this fall. The organization purchased an extra $1.5 million in food and set up supplemental food distributions as demand climbed across its network of pantries and meal programs.
Searches for food assistance on Foodlink’s website more than quadrupled compared to the same period last year.
Wegmans officials said customers responded to the moment. At the Lyell Avenue store, managers shared the story of one shopper who donated more than $2,000 during the campaign.
Foodlink serves as the hub of the emergency food system across a 10-county region, supporting both immediate food needs and long-term solutions to food insecurity.
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