LYNN — Washington S.T.E.M. Elementary students and faculty hit a home run Thursday, receiving a visit from Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas and Wally the Green Monster in honor of the fifth anniversary of the school’s Stop & Shop food pantry.
Since its inception in 2019, Stop & Shop has donated more than $112,500 to the school’s “Wolves’ Den” pantry through its School Food Pantry Program.
“This year, 95.1% of Washington S.T.E.M. students were identified as ‘high-need’ students, meaning they live below the poverty line and face food insecurity daily,” a press release from Stop & Shop reads.
Principal Anthony Frye told the audience of faculty and students that Stop & Shop has stood by the school through “tough times” in the past five years, and he is thankful for the company.
Frye also said that in his seven years at the school, the faculty have been working on increasing student achievement.
In the audience for the event were former English learner (FEL) students and students with perfect attendance, who were congratulated for going above and beyond.
“Last year we had 21 kids, this year we have 42 kids,” Frye said about the FEL students.
Jennifer Barr, director of external communications and community relations for Stop & Shop, told the audience that Washington S.T.E.M.’s food pantry was one of the first that the program set up.
“Stop & Shop now has over 230 in-school food pantries across five states,” Barr said.
Barr presented a check for $22,500 to the school in celebration of the five-year anniversary.
Then, the main event was underway. Barr said that Stop & Shop has partnered up with the Red Sox for the Strike Out School Hunger Program.
“For every strikeout that’s thrown at Fenway Park, we donate 10,000 meals to kids in need at our school pantry program,” Barr said.
She thanked the Sox for the partnership, and then surprised the students with the special guests, Wally and Casas.
“On behalf of Stop & Shop, we wanted to invite all of you guys to a game this year,” Casas said as the kids cheered. “We’re all super excited to see you all later this year. Your people do great work, I hear a lot of great things.”
The school was given 500 tickets to a game at Fenway Park during the 2024 season.
After the main event for the FEL and perfect-attendance students, all other Washington S.T.E.M. students were invited to the auditorium to meet and get a photo with Wally and Casas.
