Donations sorely needed at Deacon’s Food Cupboard

Part of an occasional series focusing on issues of hunger and financial need in the Jamesburg, Monroe area.

By: Rebecca Tokarz
JAMESBURG — A long, cold winter and a weak economy mean that the need for food and financial help is greater this year than in previous years, according to the Deacon’s Food Cupboard in Jamesburg.
   Susan Schneider-Baker, coordinator of the Deacon’s Food Cupboard for the Presbyterian Church in Jamesburg, said the winter was difficult for some because more was spent to heat homes. Others faced hardship as a result of layoffs.
   "This winter there was a particularly high increase in numbers because people on fixed incomes had to divert money to heating bills," Ms. Schneider-Baker said. "Many New Jersey businesses have laid off personnel during the past year and it’s taking 6 to 12 months for those individuals to find another job."
   Located at 177 Gatzmer Ave. the Deacon’s Food Cupboard distributes food on the third Saturday of each month by appointment, providing area residents of all religions in need with a bag of groceries.
   Additional items such as toiletries and household cleaning products are also distributed. Emergency food and other services can be provided after speaking with the church’s Board of Deacons.
   This year alone, the cupboard has helped about 150 individuals, Ms. Schneider-Baker said. The monthly totals have been on the rise since January, when 32 individuals received assistance. In April, 43 families left with a bag of food. That number does not include the additional food baskets the cupboard prepared and distributed for Easter, she said.
   "The numbers have gone up, there’s no question about it," Ms. Schneider-Baker said.
   Since January, six new families have been added to the food distribution rotation, she said.
   With numbers of families and individuals in need, the Deacon’s Food Cupboard relies heavily on local donations and food drives held throughout the year.
   On May 10, Jamesburg-Monroe Post Offices will be collecting food at each office, Ms. Schneider-Baker said.
   "We’re really counting on the food drive to replenish the shelves," she said.
   Creative Memories will host Crop for Hunger on May 31. Ms. Baker said she hopes the drive will help the cupboard stay relatively full through the summer months.
   In addition, November is the annual Boy and Cub Scout food drive, where Scouts distribute collection bags throughout Jamesburg and Monroe and then bring the donations to the church.
   Other donations, including the monthly food collections performed by the Presbyterian Church and St. James R.C. Church, come in during the year and help the cupboard provide for families during the nonfood drive months, Ms. Baker said.
   Although there are food drives planned in the coming weeks, the cupboard needs items that complement one another.
   The cupboard is stocked with food items such as pasta, pancake mix, tuna, soups and gravy, but is lacking foods like pasta sauce, pancake syrup, boxed potatoes and stuffing, Miracle Whip and crackers.
   With four single-parent families with infants currently receiving assistance from the cupboard, Ms. Baker said the pantry could use baby formula and diapers — Also, Carnation Follow-Up (with the yellow duck labels) and Simlac with Iron, and disposable diapers sizes 2, 3 and 4.
   The cupboard also could use household cleaning products and personal hygiene items like shampoo and conditioners, toilet paper, facial tissues, toothpaste and brushes, bars of soap, liquid soap.
   For further information, or to make a monetary or food donation, contact the Jamesburg Presbyterian Church at (732) 521-1711.