Big Y World Class Markets presented the American Red Cross Connecticut with a check for $200,000 on Tuesday, October 31 in support of Red Cross Disaster Relief in response to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.

From September 1 – 23, Big Y customers and employees had the opportunity to donate at registers at Big Y stores in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

A formal check presentation to the American Red Cross Connecticut was held on Tuesday, October 31, 2017 at the Plainville Big Y World Class Market and the Quincy Big Y World Class Market. In Plainville, Charlie D’Amour, President and COO, Big Y Foods presented the contribution to Liz Barton-Fongemie, Philanthropy Officer, Corporate Partnerships, Richard V. Branigan, Chief Program Officer, Nancy Taylor, Vice Chair, American Red Cross Connecticut Board of Directors. This donation drive was in partnership with NBC Connecticut.

“We are so grateful for the support of Big Y and their customers,” said Mario Bruno, CEO, American Red Cross Connecticut and Rhode Island Region. “Their generous donations allow the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small, just as we have during this very busy hurricane season.

People continue to deal with the devastation from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria more than two months after the storms made landfall. The American Red Cross is with them, providing food, shelter and help with recovery. Within the last seven weeks, the Red Cross has mobilized more than 16,000 trained disaster workers, with 91 percent of them being volunteers. Overall, Red Cross and community partners have provided 1.3 million overnight stays in emergency shelters, served more than 6.7 millions meals and snacks, distributed 3.6 million emergency relief items, and provided more than 191,600 mental health and health services. 

Big Y, its customers and employees have a strong tradition of supporting those in need through the American Red Cross.  Past relief campaigns include the 2004 Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, and the earthquakes in Japan, Haiti, and Nepal.  The 10-plus-year partnership has raised over $1.3 million to support both international and domestic disasters.

For additional Big Y information, please contact Claire D’Amour-Daley at (413)504-4004. For information about the Red Cross response to the latest disasters, please visit: www.redcross.org.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

###