Several Wilmington College officials and a trio of students gathered in the produce department at the local Kroger store first thing on Friday morning — and it wasn’t for a joint shopping venture. Kroger presented the College with a $3,000 check as part of the store’s reopening ceremony on Oct. 10.
The funds are in support of WC’s Quaker Cupboard, a campus program designed to assist students in need of basic living necessities like nonperishable food items and personal hygiene supplies. Quaker Cupboard was established five years ago in the wake of the pandemic for students experiencing economic hardship.
Tammy Shadley, vice president/chief advancement and alumni officer at WC, accepted the check by expressing the College’s appreciation for Kroger’s support of its students. Nate Flack, manager of the Academic Resource Center and ADA coordinator, said the donation will positively impact about 120 students this academic year.
“The funds will support Wilmington College students throughout the fall semester and into the spring,” Flack said. “It will enable students to access essential items and reduce hunger on campus and in our community. A big thank you to Kroger, and congratulations on the reopening!”
PICTURED: While at Kroger for it reopening ceremony, three WC students checked out the store's inventory of Fightin' Quaker apparel. Pictured from the left are seniors Jo Pedersen and Lexi Ward, and sophomore Anesu Zviiteyl.
Kroger unveiled a $1 million-plus store renovation that will “help us in continuing to provide a best-in-class shopping experience for our residents, giving them more varieties to choose from as they make meals for themselves and their loved ones,” according to Tabitha Jo Vance, the Wilmington store leader.
Sara Heyd, communications manager for Kroger’s Cincinnati/Dayton Division, spoke of the company’s support for local college students. “At Kroger, our purpose is to Feed the Human Spirit and we are proud to support efforts to end food insecurity in the communities which we serve,” she said, noting that, in celebration of the Wilmington Kroger store's grand reopening, they were pleased to donate $3,000 from Kroger’s Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation to the Quaker Cupboard. “We are committed to helping our local college students access the nutritious food and other resources they need to thrive both in and out of the classroom."
TOP PHOTO: Participating in Kroger's presentation of a $3,000 check for the Quaker Cupboard are, from the left, Lexi Ward, Student Government Assn. (SGA) president; Danielle Gentry, head of communications & public affairs, Kroger's Cincinnati/Dayton Division; Sigrid Solomon, vice president for student affairs/dean of students; Anesu Zviitey, sophomore; Jo Pedersen, SGA treasurer; Tammy Shadley, vice president/chief advancement and alumni officer; Nate Flack, manager of the Academic Resource Center and ADA coordinator; Tabitha Jo Vance, the Wilmington store leader; and J. Wynn Alexander, vice president for academic affairs/dean of faculty.