Ocean State Job Lot and Edesia to Send Emergency Nutrition to South Sudan
Truck Convoy to be Loaded on Monday, Departs Tuesday Morning
Ocean State Job Lot (OSJL), in partnership with Edesia Nutrition and Provision Ministry, is leading a humanitarian initiative to send nearly 9,000 cartons totaling 285,000 pounds of Edesia’s Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) Plumpy’Nut for severely malnourished children in South Sudan. This is enough to save the lives of at least 9,000 children.
On Monday, July 28, the OSJL Charitable Foundation and its partners will load 95 pallets of Plumpy’Nut, manufactured by Edesia in Rhode Island and recognized globally for its effectiveness in treating acute malnutrition, onto seven OSJL tractor-trailer trucks. On Tuesday, July 29, the trucks, led by the Rhode Island State Police, will depart from OSJL’s distribution center in North Kingstown to New York for transport overseas. Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee will be in attendance to show his support for the humanitarian effort and offer remarks prior to the convoy’s departure.
While more than 150,000 cartons remain stored in Edesia’s warehouse awaiting U.S. government authorization for overseas distribution, OSJL and Edesia mobilized quickly to ensure children in crisis don’t have to wait for life-saving nutrition. Production of this shipment of Plumpy’Nut is being funded by generous donors from Rhode Island and across the country through Edesia’s “Children Can’t Wait” campaign, which was launched to keep production lines moving while government shipments remain delayed.
World Vision, one of the world’s largest humanitarian relief agencies, is funding the ocean freight from NY to South Sudan, and distributing the Plumpy’Nut to children on ground. 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.
Edesia is one of the world’s largest producers of ready-to-use foods that treat and prevent childhood malnutrition. Over 15 years, through partners like UNICEF and the World Food Programme, Edesia has shipped its therapeutic foods to 65 countries and helped to save the lives of more than 26 million children.
Monday, July 28, 2025
2:00 p.m.: Truck loading and media availability at Edesia (media is welcome to arrive at 1:15 p.m. to capture b-roll of the Edesia production facility)
Edesia Nutrition, 550 Romano Vineyard Way, North Kingstown, RI
Marc Perlman, CEO, Ocean State Job Lot; Navyn Salem, Founder & CEO, Edesia; David Sarlitto, Vice President of Corporate Giving, OSJL Charitable Foundation; Tom Slicklen, CEO, Provision Ministry.
Tuesday, July 29, 2025
7:00 a.m.: Convoy departure from OSJL Distribution Center (media welcome, no formal program)
Ocean State Job Lot Distribution Center, 375 Commerce Park Rd, North Kingstown, RI
(Enter at main doors to be escorted into distribution center.)
Marc Perlman, CEO, Ocean State Job Lot; Governor Dan McKee; David Sarlitto, Vice President of Corporate Giving, OSJL Charitable Foundation; Tom Slicklen, CEO, Provision Ministry; Ron Dalgliesh, Chief Development & Global Sales Officer, Edesia; and representatives from the Rhode Island State Police.
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 four-time “Best Employer” by Forbes® Magazine*, a five-time US 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: OceanStateJobLot.com.
