Two local residents who are employees of Ocean State Job Lot have been named as 2017 "Three Square Meals" Food Ambassadors by the Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation. Julie Philbrook, of Belfast, who works at the Belfast store, and Carole Barnes, of Rockland, who works at the Rockland store ,were selected for this year's recognition based on an enthusiasm that exudes the spirit and nature of the "Three Square Meals" family meal assistance charitable program and its community mindedness.

"For the past 14 years, Ocean State Job Lot's Three Square Meals program has been helping to keep food banks stocked with truckloads of donations of nutritious, shelf-stable food," said David Sarlitto, executive director of the Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation, in a news releae. "Many of our associates play an important role in the success of this program, and our Food Ambassador program allows us to acknowledge and recognize their personal contributions and actions that inspire others."

Regional, district and store managers across New England, New York, and New Jersey nominated one associate from each of the 127 Ocean State Job Lot stores and one employee who works at corporate headquarters who went above and beyond in helping to increase in-store donations, volunteering, or supporting their local food bank or food pantry in some way.

As part of the 2017 "Three Square Meals" truck convoy event held recently at Ocean State Job Lot's headquarters in Rhode Island, each Food Ambassador was recognized with their name, photo and store location on a series of posters which now hang in the headquarters' lobby. Each received a personalized letter of congratulations and gift card from Ocean State Job Lot President and Co-Founder Alan Perlman, who established the "Three Square Meals" program years ago.