Taunton family battling cancer gets emotional at surprise of free groceries for a year

Ed Baker, The Taunton Daily Gazette
Updated ·4 min read

TAUNTON — Taunton resident Mark Pangman said being diagnosed with cancer two years ago caused financial difficulties for him and his wife, Jessica Rivers, while he underwent treatment for the disease.

"We did not know where the money would come from, and then the Joe Andruzzi Foundation came in with their capes," he said.

"They really helped us through that hard period."

When Pangman and Rivers arrived at the Stop & Shop in Mansfield on Tuesday, April 4, they thought they'd been invited to take part in a $50,000 check presentation to the Joe Andruzzi Foundation.

Little did the Taunton family know they would be the recipients of free groceries and water for a year.

Taunton resident Mark Pangman, left, who was diagnosed with cancer two years ago, his wife Jessica Rivers and their two sons are surprised with free groceries and water for a year at a check presentation for the Joe Andruzzi Foundation at the Stop & Shop in Mansfield on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. Andruzzi, a former New England Patriots offensive guard who himself was diagnosed with cancer in 2007, is on the right.

Stop & Shop Director of Operations Vinord Israni surprised Rivers and Pangman by giving them $6,000 worth of supermarket gift cards.

"We will be donating a year of groceries to you as a surprise for you and your family because you have been through a lot," he said during the ceremony. "We want to make this special for you. Allow me to hand you $6,000 in Stop & Shop gift cards to pay for your groceries this year."

Israni said Rivers and Pangman "are ambassadors" for the Andruzzi Foundation.

The donation caused Rivers to shed tears as she thanked supermarket officials and the Andruzzi Foundation for their financial assistance.

"Thank you so much," she said after being presented with the gift cards by Israni.

Taunton resident Mark Pangman, left, who was diagnosed with cancer two years ago, his wife Jessica Rivers and their two sons are surprised with free groceries and water for a year at a check presentation for the Joe Andruzzi Foundation at the Stop & Shop in Mansfield on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. Andruzzi, a former New England Patriots offensive guard who himself was diagnosed with cancer in 2007, is on the right.

Rivers said the Joe Andruzzi Foundation provided their household with separate grants of $800-$900 that helped them pay household expenses during the past two years while Pangman received cancer treatments.

"It was a hard road," she said. "Both of our boys have severe autism. We advocate for the boys to raise awareness of autism. We now advocate for autism, and the Joe Andruzzi Foundation stepped up to help us. It was amazing."

On Tuesday, Poland Spring representative Peter Minniti said the Maine-based bottled water company would also be providing "a year's worth" of Poland Springs products to the family.

"We can work out whatever you desire," he said. "We will follow up with you on that."

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What is the Joe Andruzzi Foundation?

The Joe Andruzzi Foundation was founded in 2008 by Jen and Joe Andruzzi, a former New England Patriots offensive guard who played on three-time Super Bowl championship teams and underwent a year-long battle with Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2007-2008.

Andruzzi Foundation President Jen Andruzzi said she and her husband founded the charity to help cancer patients with financial difficulties.

Since the foundation started, the Joe Andruzzi Foundation has awarded $10 million to over 40,000 cancer patients and their families, she said.

"That still doesn't seem enough," Jen Andruzzi said.

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At the ceremony on Tuesday, Stop & Shop and Poland Springs each donated $25,000 to the Andruzzi Foundation.

Joe Andruzzi said the Stop & Shop and Poland Springs donations would help his foundation assist cancer patients and their families with financial needs.

"Fifteen years ago, I was a patient, and I was fortunate enough to play 10 years in the NFL," he said. "Others are not as fortunate. With everything going on these days, we have had an influx of applications come into the foundation."

Jen Andruzzi said the Stop & Shop and Poland Springs donations would assist the Andruzzi Foundations' ability to help cancer patients struggling to buy groceries and pay rent, utility bills and transportation costs.

"We don't want cancer patients to have to choose between putting food on their table or paying an electric bill," she said. "Your donations will go a long way toward helping more patients when inflation and food costs are crippling cancer patients. This gift today will help keep a family in their house."

Pangman said, "There's really no words to describe how thankful and fortunate we are" to have received support in a time of need.

"It's truly a blessing," he said after the ceremony. "These people have gone a long way."

This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Taunton Joe Andruzzi: Man battling cancer given free groceries