Need still exists at Jamesburg Presbyterian Church’s Deacon’s Food Pantry
By:Joseph Harvie
JAMESBURG The Jamesburg Presbyterian Church Deacon’s Food Pantry has seen an increase in donations over the past two weeks, but more donations are still needed.
Two weeks ago the Deacon’s Food Pantry was nearly forced to close its doors to the more than 55 families, 12 single mothers, 15 senior citizens and 10 or so walk-ins who use the pantry, said pantry director Susan Schneider-Baker. She said the shelves were so bare that she didn’t think the pantry would make it through the end of August.
Fortunately, the pantry has received some help.
Ms. Schneider-Baker said several organizations in the area have already signed up to do food drives to help bring more food, baby items and personal hygiene products to the pantry.
"A number of organizations have decided to help out. The Girl Scouts have responded and are running a food drive, but they have not committed a date yet," Ms. Schneider-Baker said. "The Brandeis Alumni, a group in Concordia, will be running a drive for us on Sept. 9."
Ms. Schneider-Baker said one resident is starting a food drive in her neighborhood.
Ms. Schneider-Baker said the community outpouring has also filled some shelves at the Deacon’s Pantry.
After several months of low donations, which Ms. Schneider said can be attributed to several things, including people being away on vacation and the tough economic times in the state, things might be turning around.
"A number of individuals have brought in two bags to 10 bags of groceries," Ms. Schneider Baker said.
Even residents of Jamesburg who work in North Jersey are lending a hand. Ms. Schneider-Baker said a bakery in North Jersey will donate bread that has to be pulled off the shelf one week prior to expiration.
"A bakery towards North Jersey, one of their guys who delivers is from Jamesburg, and he will donate breads that have to come off the shelves," Ms. Schneider-Baker said.
Ms. Schneider-Baker said the Disney Store in the Freehold Raceway Mall as part of its VoluntEARS program, will be holding a food drive at the Freehold store location from Aug. 28 to Sept. 1.
She said the pantry even received five turkeys over the past two weeks and received diapers, baby food and cereal in response to her request for baby items.
"I try to give out enough (diapers) for day care so parents can keep them in daycare and maintain their jobs or stay in school," Ms. Schneider-Baker said. "Diapers are about $20 to $28 a month … depending on how you ration them out."
She said summertime also calls for the need of child-friendly foods and drinks because children are home from school. She said the pantry could still use juice and fruits and even snacks.
"A lot of people responded with juice which is good, since a lot of kids are home so kid-friendly foods always help," Ms. Schneider-Baker said.
She said more donations are welcome so that the Food Pantry can keep its doors open during the summer. The families receive cereals, juice, canned fruits and vegetables, soap, shampoo and for infants and toddlers formula and baby food, Ms. Schneider-Baker said.
"We got a lot of each item but we could still use some canned fruit and vegetables, and cereals," Ms. Schneider-Baker said. "I give out 45 to 55 boxes of cereal a month and always I have just enough. Sometimes I have one left and other times I have none left over."
She said there is always a need for personal-care products like soap, toilet paper and shampoo and other items that can be costly on shopping bills.
"Somebody did donate two jugs of laundry detergent. We have a couple of senior citizens on extremely tight fixed incomes, I try to give these to them because they only bring in about $400 a month, which is barely enough to survive on."
More donations are welcomed and can be made by calling the Jamesburg Presbyterian Church, 177 Gatzmer Ave., at (732) 521-1711, Monday through Friday. Packages can either be dropped off at the church or the church can make other arrangements.