SHAPLEIGH — A local resident who is an employee of Ocean State Job Lot has been named as a 2015 Food Ambassador by the Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation. Robin Martell of Shapleigh, who works at the Sanford store, is among Ocean State Job Lot’s employees being honored for their personal contribution in the fight to alleviate food insecurity through the company’s “Three Square Meals” family meal assistance program.

“For the past 12 years, Ocean State Job Lot’s Three Square Meals program has been helping to keep local food banks stocked with truckloads of donations of nutritious, shelf-stable food. We recognize that many of our employees play an important part in the success of this program, and we decided this year to start a new tradition of honoring them,” said David Sarlitto, marketing executive for Ocean State Job Lot. “We’re calling these employees our ”˜food ambassadors’ because their selfless actions help to inspire others.”

Ocean State Job Lot store managers from each of the store locations across New England, New York, and New Jersey elected one associate who they felt went above and beyond in helping to increase in-store donations, volunteering, or supporting their local food bank or food pantry in some way. Three employees from the corporate office were also recognized.

As part of the 2015 “Three Square Meals” kick off event held at Ocean State Job Lot’s corporate headquarters recently, each food ambassador was recognized on a poster, which now hangs in the lobby and also received a personalized letter of congratulations and gift card from Ocean State Job Lot President and Co-founder Alan Perlman. Ocean State Job Lot is hoping its Food Ambassador program encourages more store associates to get involved in local programs and initiatives aimed at fighting hunger.