Shopko and The Salvation Army Kick Off Annual "Tools for School" campaign

GREEN BAY, Wis., July 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Shopko announces that it is partnering with The Salvation Army to launch its annual "Tools for School" campaign.  The two organizations have worked together on the "Tools for School" program since 2005.  This year, from July 12 through August 8, customers can help local students in need by dropping donated school supplies in collection bins that will be located in over 300 Shopko and Shopko Hometown stores.

"Shopko is proud to partner with The Salvation Army once again on the 'Tools for School' program," said Peter McMahon, Shopko CEO.  "Through the Shopko Foundation, we support projects that help students succeed in school and become self-sufficient adults.  It's fundamental to their education that students have the supplies that they need to be ready to learn each day and that's why the 'Tools for School' project is so important.  This year, in addition to collecting items at Shopko stores, we are excited to expand the program to all of our Shopko Hometown locations which will enable us to reach even more families in need."

The "Tools for School" program provides school supplies to students in need in kindergarten through 12^th grade.  Beginning August 8, school supplies are distributed by local Salvation Army chapters based on community donations and are available while supplies last.  Children are provided a pre-packaged bag of school supplies and each family is provided with one new backpack.

"The Salvation Army is again pleased to be partnering with Shopko on the 'Tools for School' campaign," said Nan Pahl, Director of Social Services at The Salvation Army of Brown County.  "This program helps children in the local community obtain the school supplies they will need to start the new school year.  It is so important that children from low income families can begin the school year with shiny new supplies, just like everyone else.  This helps them to fit in and encourages them to start the school year with a positive attitude.  The community's generosity in making this happen is greatly appreciated!"

Shopko is owned by an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners, Inc., a leading private investment firm focused on leverage buyouts, equity, debt, and other investments in market-leading companies. 

About Shopko

Founded in 1962 and headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Shopko Stores Operating Co., LLC is a $3 billion retailer that operates 321 stores in 21 states throughout the Midwest, Mountain, North Central and Pacific Northwest regions. Retail formats include 133 Shopko stores, providing quality name-brand merchandise, great values, pharmacy and optical services in small to mid-sized cities; 5 Shopko Express Rx stores, a convenient neighborhood drugstore concept; 6 Shopko Pharmacy locations; and 177 Shopko Hometown stores, a smaller concept store developed to meet the needs of smaller communities.  For more information, visit www.shopko.com.

SOURCE Shopko