Jamesburg food pantry short on supplies

Pantry in need of canned meats, fruit juice, cereal and pasta among many other items.

By: Leon Tovey
   JAMESBURG — After struggling through one of the most demanding years in its history last year, the Jamesburg Presbyterian Church’s Deacons Food Cupboard is starting off this year more than a little short on food, the pantry’s director said this week.
   Susan Schneider-Baker said Wednesday that 613 area families (a total of 1,585 people) received commodities from the pantry in 2004.
   "That’s double the number we saw in 2003," she said. "And the numbers just keep increasing."
   Making matters worse, Ms. Schneider-Baker said the pantry is currently down to just three crates of canned soup and six crates of pasta.
   "We need everything," she said. "But I’d especially like to see more canned fruits."
   The Deacons Food Cupboard distributes a bag of groceries to local families of all religions on the third Saturday of each month out of its temporary headquarters at the First Baptist Church on Half Acre Road.
   Ms. Schneider-Baker said 79 families attended the pantry’s Jan. 15 distribution — a surprisingly high number for January.
   "We saw higher numbers during the last two months as well, but with people giving during the holidays, we were able to make it through pretty easily," she said. "But this last distribution wiped us out completely, and we only have one drive scheduled this month."
   Immaculate Conception School, a private Catholic school in Spotswood, will be holding a food drive for the pantry from Jan. 31 to Feb. 4, Ms. Schneider-Baker said. But because the school has fewer than 400 students, she said she worries the drive won’t gather enough food to meet demand for February’s distribution.
   She said she’s also looking at new, more efficient ways to operate the pantry. Currently, the pantry gives out coupons for milk and eggs, which can be redeemed at the Jamesburg Deli. Ms. Schneider-Baker said she’s considering implementing a similar program for meat and margarine.
   The pantry also urgently needs canned meats, fruit juice, cereal, pasta sauce, peanut butter and jelly, cookies, crackers, ketchup and mustard, and non-perishable items like tissue and liquid anti-bacterial hand soap.
   Information on what’s needed and how to make a donation can be obtained by calling the Presbyterian Church office at (732) 521-1711.