Correspondent photo / Susan Wojnar Eric and Sarah Senges own and operate Grocery Outlet supermarkets in Austintown, Boardman and New Castle, Pa. A portion of the store’s profits goes back into each community to support nonprofit organizations.

For Eric and Sarah Senges, their grocery stores are more than just a place to shop — they are a community hub.

The Senges own and operate Grocery Outlets in Boardman, New Castle and the recently opened Austintown location. Money spent by shoppers not only gets the groceries, but also supports the community.

The grocery store owners have donated thousands to schools and nonprofit organizations. The couple believe in making a difference and the Grocery Outlet chain backs them up.

“Giving back to the community isn’t just something we do locally, it’s built into Grocery Outlet’s DNA. The company has a national campaign, Independence from Hunger, that every store participates in to fight food insecurity. Independence from Hunger is a food drive, where customers can purchase a $5 food bag and receive a $5 coupon in return. Over the past two years, we’ve raised $6,000 through this initiative, thanks to the incredible generosity of our customers,” Sarah Senges said.

She said independent operators are encouraged to get involved in their communities in whatever ways make sense locally — partnering with food banks, supporting schools or volunteering. The company publishes impact reports and has a foundation for helping in tough times.

“Our efforts here are very much aligned with what Grocery Outlet as a whole encourages,” Sarah said.

According to its website, Grocery Outlet Holding Corp. is an American discount closeout retailer consisting exclusively of supermarket locations that offer discounted, overstocked, and closeout products from name-brand and private-label suppliers. The company has stores in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio and Delaware.

The vast majority of Grocery Outlet’s stores are independently operated by local married couples. Each store has flexibility in its product offerings to serve local tastes and demand.

The Senges moved to Boardman in 2023 from Southern California, where they previously owned a Grocery Outlet in Lake Elsinore.

“Grocery Outlet approached us with the opportunity to help open a new market in this area, and it felt like a great fit. Eric grew up on the East Coast, and his sister lives in North Lima, while his other siblings are in Connecticut and New Jersey — so moving here also brought us closer to family. I grew up in California, so it was a big change, but we’ve really grown to love the community here,” Sarah said.

Lynn Wyant, chief development officer for the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley spoke about the couple.

“We absolutely adore Eric and Sarah. From the moment they moved here from California, they made it a priority to get to know the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley and understand how their support could make a real difference. Their generosity and hands-on approach truly reflect their hearts for this community,” Wyant said.

The Senges toured the mission and sought to understand what their contributions would support. They’ve made several donations to the mission — $1,000 when the Boardman store opened in November of 2023 and another $1,000 last week when they opened a Grocery Outlet in Austintown.

“Additionally, they allow our mission ambassador to set up a table inside their store and have hosted multiple fundraisers for the mission. Each July, they have an ‘Independence from Hunger’ fundraiser that Grocery Outlet does nationally. With the funds raised, they reach out to our kitchen director and ask what specific items he would like for them to purchase. They then order exactly what we need and provide the donation,” Wyant said.

Billie Jo Johnson, principal at Robinwood Lane Elementary in Boardman, said Eric and Sarah have done a lot for the Boardman Local School District, contributing swag bags for every staff member for teacher appreciation week, bags for the book fair and holiday shops, and supplies for waiver day treats. They also contributed various food and toppings for Teacher Appreciation Week, baskets and gift cards for the school’s fall fest, prizes for various giveaways, and a giveback day where schools earned 5% of the store’s profits for the day, which amounted to $600.

“The Senges family is a tremendous asset to Robinwood and the community of Boardman. They always go above and beyond to help support students, staff and families,” Johnson said.

The Senges are donating candy to West Boulevard Elementary for their upcoming trunk or treat event, and in November, will do another giveback day to benefit the Robinwood Lane PTA.

“It’s a fun and meaningful way to stay connected with local families,” Sarah said. “Giving back is a core value for us — not just as business owners, but as members of this community. We live here, work here, and we truly care about making a positive impact.”