STATE COLLEGE — Giant and Martin Food Stores recently made a record-setting number of Jared Boxes — 6,302 — and stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia delivered the boxes to more than 60 hospitals in Pennsylvania.
A Jared Box is a plastic shoe box filled with game, toys, fun activities and notes of well wishes. The mission of The Jared Box Project, a nonprofit organization based in the State College area, is to lift the spirits of children in the hospital. The project was started by the children at Our Lady of Victory School in State College in memory of a classmate.
Since the project began, it has spread to all 50 states and more than 350,000 Jared Boxes have been made.
‘Supporting the Jared Box initiative provided Giant/Martin’s a great opportunity to become actively involved in our communities, and deliver on our ‘Better Neighbor’ promise,’ said Steve Harfield, director of human resources and building business lead for Giant’s Women Adding Value.
The Giant/Carlisle WAV chapter conference was held Sept. 13 in Harrisburg. It was there that the announcement was made that the boxes were a record for the Jared Box campaign.
“We are so honored and thankful to the Giant and Martin Stores for their support of the Jared Box Project,’ said Cindy Kolarik, executive director of the Jared Box Project. ‘Can you imagine? Over 6,000 Jared Boxes, over 6,000 smiles on the faces of children in the hospital.”
For more information, visit www.thejaredbox.com.
