Ocean State Job Lot and Its Customers Donate 1.2 Million Therapeutic Meals to Help Save the Lives of Starving Children
OSJL Partners with Provision Ministry and Edesia Nutrition to provide lifesaving Plumpy’Nut to children in crisis
North Kingstown, RI – (September 2, 2025) – Ocean State Job Lot (OSJL), the region’s premier discount retail chain with 176 stores across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, today announced that it partnered with its customers to donate 1.2 million meals during a recent fundraiser to support global humanitarian relief efforts. The initiative will provide children suffering from severe malnutrition with Plumpy’Nut, a ready-to-use therapeutic food produced by Rhode Island–based non-profit Edesia Nutrition. The fundraiser was conducted across OSJL’s 176 stores, where cashiers invited customers to add a donation at checkout.
Plumpy’Nut is a shelf-stable peanut paste enriched with vitamins and minerals that has been proven to treat and cure severe acute malnutrition. A single carton containing 150 servings can save the life of a child.
“We are overwhelmed by the generosity of our customers, who helped us surpass our goal and provide life-saving nutrition for thousands of children,” said David Sarlitto, Vice President of Corporate Giving, Ocean State Job Lot. “This effort is proof that together, we can make a global difference from right here in Rhode Island.”
The fundraiser builds on OSJL’s ongoing humanitarian partnership with Edesia Nutrition, Provision Ministry, and World Vision, which earlier this summer leveraged its transportation assets to ship 285,000 pounds of Plumpy’Nut to South Sudan. According to UNICEF, more than 1.6 million children in South Sudan are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition in 2025, driven by conflict, displacement, flooding, and limited food access.
The Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation covers all operational and administrative expenses associated with its philanthropic initiatives, ensuring that 100% of every dollar raised goes directly to helping those in need.
About Ocean State Job Lot:
Founded in 1977, Ocean State Job Lot (OSJL) is a growing, privately held discount retail chain with 176 stores in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware, nearly 7,000 employees, and annual sales exceeding $850 million. OSJL shoppers find an ever-changing array of brand-name, first-quality merchandise at closeout prices, including household goods, apparel, pet supplies, seasonal products (holiday, gardening, patio, pool and beach supplies), and kitchen pantry staples at a fraction of their typical price.
The company was named a five-time “Best Employer” by Forbes® Magazine*, a five-time U.S. Best Managed Company by Deloitte, one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Parents & Families 2024 by Newsweek, a four-time winner of the Inspiring Workplaces in North America Award, and a Global Top 100 Inspiring Workplaces winner. Ocean State Job Lot is not affiliated with Forbes®.
The Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation has a long history of philanthropic leadership, supporting numerous causes, including feeding the hungry, helping the homeless, assisting veterans and military families, aiding animal rescue, caring for children, advancing healthcare, supporting the arts, and promoting learning. The Foundation’s operational, administrative and overhead expenses are covered by Ocean State Job Lot, not the Foundation, ensuring that 100% of every dollar raised through the Foundation goes directly to helping those in need.
Ocean State Job Lot is headquartered in Quonset Point Business Park at 375 Commerce Park Road, North Kingstown, RI 02852. Phone: 401-295-2672. Website: www.oceanstatejoblot.com
