Wegmans’ Care About Hunger – an annual campaign, more like competition, among all 92 stores of the regional supermarket chain that raises money for local food banks – is officially in the books for 2016.

And now that the final pennies have been counted, two things are abundantly clear:

First, the generosity of Wegmans’ employees and customers knows no bounds. Second, if ever world hunger were to become the afterthought we want it to be, it might be Chester County leading the charge.

The Malvern Wegmans finished first in money raised among all the stores, which are concentrated mostly in the Mid-Atlantic, while the Downingtown Wegmans finished second.

And so, last Friday, the Service Area Managers and employees from each store presented the Chester County Food Bank with a check that combined their fundraising efforts and totaled $146,180.72.

The money was raised in just three months, from October to December.

And if that wasn’t enough, they also delivered a truckload of approximately nine tons – 17,858 pounds, to be exact – of non-perishable food. The Wegmans employees then helped to sort and organize 20 pallets of food, including canned soups, vegetables and fruit, peanut butter, canned tuna, cereal, and juice.

“The competition (among each store) was fierce,” said Jose Frazier, the Service Area Manager of the Malvern store. “At the end of every day, as managers, we would call each other to see how much money we got.”

Frazier said he didn’t have to motivate his employees, several of whom are still in high school, to get them on board.

“Our workers just ran with it,” he said. “Most of the high school kids can only work on weekends, and we had one who raised more than $2,000. And the customers were unbelievable. We had one give us $1,000, and another one give us $750.”

For Frazier, who grew up in north Philadelphia often wondering where his next meal was coming from, he feels obligated to give back.

“My family had to visit food banks and churches a lot,” he said. “Now that I’m in a better place in my life, I think it’s important to pay it forward.”

Since 2010, Wegmans has given more than a half-million dollars – $584,408.22 – to the Chester County Food Bank. And every penny is critical, considering that less than 10 percent of its funds come from the government, and donations are the lifeblood of the organization.

“We are so grateful for the partnership we have with Wegmans,” said Larry Welsch, executive director of the Chester County Food Bank, which was formed in 2009 to address the escalating hunger problem in the county. “I am truly amazed at the collaboration between Wegmans and their customers. To hear from employees their personal stories and relationships that they build with customers through this campaign is inspiring.”

The Food Bank’s mission is simple – to mobilize the community to ensure access to real, healthy food – and it is partners like Wegmans that enable it to fulfill that mission.

“The Wegmans team has become community ambassadors for us,” said Welsch. “The success of Care About Hunger and the donation of food strengthens each year, thereby allowing the Food Bank to serve more of our neighbors in need.”

The compassion of Wegmans employees should come as no surprise, considering that Wegmans was ranked fourth on Fortune magazine’s 2016 list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For. It also placed fifth on Forbes magazine’s 2016 list of America’s Best Employers.

Happy workers are enthusiastic workers, as Care About Hunger has proven.

“I started at Wegmans 11 years ago as a cashier,” said Amanda Foreacre, the Service Area Manager at the Downingtown store. “I learned quickly that supporting local food causes, helping to reduce food insecurity, is a core value here. A lot of companies talk about values but don’t really (demonstrate them). Wegmans does.”

Frazier agreed.

“I’m blessed to work for higher-ups who value what’s most important,” he said, “and that’s giving back to the community.”