KEASBEY, N.J. — ShopRite has kicked off a campaign to thank health care workers, first responders and supermarket associates everywhere who are serving communities through the COVID-19 crisis. The campaign, called Essential Thanks, gives everyone an opportunity to show their gratitude by posting a thank you note to COVID-19 frontline workers.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has put the spotlight on what it takes to keep our communities safe and healthy every day and in times of crisis,” said Joe Colalillo, chairman and chief executive officer of Wakefern Food Corp. “We ask you to join us in thanking our store teams, warehouse workers, truck drivers, healthcare and all frontline workers for the incredible job they are doing each day by going to work to support and serve their communities.”

Thank you notes can be uploaded directly to  www.EssentialThanks.com or by tagging #EssentialThanks on Instagram and Twitter.

All thank you messages should be posted by June 30. Wakefern, the retailer-owned cooperative that includes supermarket banner brands ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer and Dearborn Market, will donate $1 for each message delivered during that time frame, up to a maximum donation of $500,000. The money will go to food banks in Wakefern’s trading area.

Recently, Wakefern, through its ShopRite Partners In Caring Fund, donated $1 million to regional food banks to help meet the dramatic increase in demand for food and essentials during the COVID-19 pandemic.