During September’s National Hunger Awareness Month each year, ShopRite associates band together to raise help and hope for the hungry in a friendly competition that spans across six states.

Sponsored by ShopRite and General Mills, this year’s ShopRite Partners In Caring contest resulted in an unprecedented $1.25 million in funds raised for regional food banks in the areas ShopRite serves.

In addition to fighting hunger in their communities, each of the 41 winning stores are awarded with the selection of two associates to be featured on a special-edition Cheerios box to be sold exclusively at ShopRites stores during the month of March. 

Among this year’s winning stores is the ShopRite of English Creek, Egg Harbor Township, which selected associate, Maryann Martin of Manahawkin and associate, Cheryl Winters of Egg Harbor Twp to be featured on 125,000 special-edition Cheerios boxes for their store’s commitment.

In an interview with Patch, Martin, who has been working with Shop Rite for 17 years, said she has been in charge of the English Creek location's Partners in Caring program for three years, and this is the second year her store has raised enough to be on the Cheerios box. 

The English Creek location raised $13,808.81 for Community Food Bank South. One of the biggest events to raise funds is the Help Bag Hunger day at the store, where local dignitaries and radio personalities come out and bag groceries for customers.  

"The Cheerios box is nice, definitely different, but we're not doing it for that," Martin said. "We're doing it to raise the money for the food banks and to reach out to the community. Without the community, we couldn't do this all."

The box will be unveiled during a ceremony at the ShopRite of English Creek, 3003 Black Horse Pike on March, 4, 2013 at 2:00 p.m.

Scheduled to attend are Mayor Sonny McCullough, Frank Sutton, Atlantic County Freeholder, firefighters from Cardiff Volunteer Fire Department,  Margie Barham, Executive Director of Community Food Bank South and Kristen Lucca, promotions director for Lite Rock WFPG.

“We are grateful to our ShopRite associates for their dedication to help those who are hungry in their community,” said Christine Magyarits, spokesperson for ShopRite Partners In Caring. “These funds will go a long way toward alleviating hunger in communities served by ShopRite stores."

The winning stores are:

New Jersey:

ShopRite of Berlin, Brookdale ShopRite, ShopRite of Byram, ShopRite of Chews Landing, ShopRite of Clinton, ShopRite of English Creek in Egg Harbor Township, ShopRite of Fischer Bay in Toms River, ShopRite of Flemington, ShopRite of Garden State Pavilion in Cherry Hill, ShopRite of Greenwich, ShopRite of Hackensack, ShopRite of Hammonton, ShopRite of Lodi, ShopRite of Lyndhurst, ShopRite of Mansfield, ShopRite of Marlton, ShopRite of Medford, ShopRite of Netcong, ShopRite of Newton, ShopRite of Passaic, ShopRite of Ramsey, ShopRite of Rio Grande, ShopRite of Somers Point, ShopRite of Stirling, ShopRite of Succasunna, ShopRite of Wayne, ShopRite of West Deptford, ShopRite of Williamstown

New York:

ShopRite of Forest & Richmond, ShopRite of Garnerville, ShopRite of Hylan Boulevard, ShopRite of Stony Point

Pennsylvania:

ShopRite of Aramingo Avenue in Philadelphia, ShopRite of Daleville, ShopRite of Morrell Plaza in Philadelphia, ShopRite of Mount Pocono, ShopRite of Oxford & Levick in Philadelphia, ShopRite of Snyder Plaza in Philadelphia, ShopRite of Stroudsburg

Connecticut:

ShopRite of Bristol, ShopRite of Waterbury