Stop & Shop Brings Community Together for 3rd Annual Health and Wellness Fair

Stop & Shop, a neighborhood grocer serving communities for more than 100 years, hosted its 3rd Annual Community Health and Wellness Fair at its Brooklyn store located at 625 Atlantic Avenue. The free event reflected Stop & Shop’s ongoing commitment to educating and empowering customers and their families to make healthier food choices and lead healthier lives.

The Community Health and Wellness Fair brought together a broad range of local businesses and organizations representing various aspects of health and wellness. Attendees enjoyed music, kids’ crafts and prizes, nutrition education, and access to valuable community resources from partners including Healthfirst, Food Bank For New York City, No Kid Hungry, NYC Department of Health – Bureau of Brooklyn Neighborhood Health, Dodge YMCA, Kingsborough Community College, TimeBank by Healthfirst Foundation, and other local health and wellness organizations.

Stop & Shop’s Registered Dietitians provided nutrition guidance and hosted a popular “Spin to Win” table featuring giveaways and coupons. Trusted Stop & Shop pharmacists were also on-site offering vaccinations, and the first 100 visitors received bags of healthy food.

According to Food Bank For New York City, food insecurity remains a significant challenge in Brooklyn:

• 1.4 million New Yorkers struggle to feed themselves and their families
• In 2025, Food Bank For New York City provided nearly 26 million free meals to member charities and schools in Brooklyn—30 percent of its citywide food distribution
• As of July 2025, Brooklyn’s unemployment rate stood at 5.8 percent, compared to the national rate of 4.6 percent and a citywide rate of 5.7 percent
• 17.1 percent, or more than 453,000 Brooklyn residents, are food insecure
• Approximately 19 percent, or nearly 507,000 residents, are living below the federal poverty level—above New York City’s overall poverty rate of 18.2 percent
• More than one in three NYC SNAP participants (35 percent)—or more than 627,000 individuals—live in Brooklyn
• Brooklyn’s annual meal gap is nearly 86 million meals, accounting for 32 percent of New York City’s total meal gap

“After the success of last year’s Health & Wellness Fair in Springfield Gardens, we were excited to bring this event to our Atlantic Avenue store and expand access to wrap‑around healthcare services for the Brooklyn community,” said Tina McGeough, MPH, RDN, CDCES, Stop & Shop Dietitian. “By offering meaningful, practical resources in a welcoming and family‑friendly environment, we aim to empower individuals and families to take actionable steps toward healthier lives.”

“Healthy eating and good nutrition are essential to overall health and play a critical role in preventing and managing chronic conditions,” said Miguel Centeno, Healthfirst Vice President of Community Engagement. “By helping New Yorkers identify hidden sugars and better understand what’s in the foods they buy, we’re making nutrition education more practical. Events like this create opportunities to engage directly with the community, encourage healthier habits, and empower families to make choices that support better health outcomes.”

“True impact happens when partners don’t just show up, but share the mission,” said Janis Robinson, VP of Institutions and Partnerships at Food Bank For NYC. “Stop & Shop understands that access to nutritious food and health resources is foundational to community well being. We’re proud to stand alongside a partner so deeply committed to helping New Yorkers thrive.”

The 3rd Annual Community Health and Wellness Fair aimed to address health disparities, food insecurity, and chronic conditions through a range of activities focused on key social determinants of health, including economic stability, access to education and healthcare, neighborhood environment, and social support. For more information about Stop & Shop’s Registered Dietitian services, visit stopandshop.com/nutrition.