Franklin Food Bank Benefits From Jeweler’s ‘Round Up For Hunger’ Campaign

Frank Hasner, center, receives ceremonial donation check from Venus Jewelers’ Peter Stavrianidis and Dorothy Fount.

A two-week matching donation program run by a township jeweler resulted in a $1,500 contribution to the Franklin Food Bank.

Peter Stavrianidis, owner of Venus Jewelers in the Rutgers Plaza on Easton Avenue, presented the check to Frank Hasner, the food bank’s executive director, at a short ceremony in the store on Dec. 12.

The money was generated through the store’s “Round Up For Hunger” campaign.

For two weeks after Thanksgiving, Venus Jewelers’ customers were encouraged to “round up” their purchases as a donation to the food bank. Venus Jewelers then matched the portion of the final bill that was rounded up.

“We did it just to help the food bank,” Stavrianidis said.

One customer gave an extra $300, which the store matched, he said.

Hasner said that donations such as this one, from a local, family owned business, are very important.

“We do get a lot of support from large and small businesses alike, but generally the larger corporations are going to support the larger charities,” he said. “So having local businesses chip in really helps us.”

“This is another example of a family owned business supporting us,” he said. “We can’t go wrong with that, that’s what we’re about, we’re about the community supporting the community.”

The money, Hasner said, “will go a really, really long way in feeding a lot of folks.”

Hasner said that while the food bank is not seeing the year-to-year increases in the number of people who need help that it has in the past, those who do need help need more of it.

“They’re coming in more times,” he said. “To provide that food, it takes a lot of resources, both equipment and people.”

Those wishing to make a donation to the food bank can do so at franklinfoodbank.org, or by calling (732) 246-0009.

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