Shelves are empty at pantry

Township Food Pantry seeks assistance from community.

By: Melissa Hayes
   Three jars of jelly sit on an otherwise bare shelf.
   Shelves usually reserved for mashed potatoes and baking items are empty. A bin that holds peanut butter is reaching an all-time low and there’s only one can of coffee.
   Which means that food at the Township Food Pantry is needed as soon as possible.
   "It hasn’t been this empty since before the holidays," said LouAnne Wolf, township social services director.
   Making matters worse is that Ms. Wolf is worried that when school lets out in June and student-run food drives end, things will get even worse. She also said that a lot of individuals are unemployed in the summer and the need increase.
   But until then, the schools are helping, as are other organizations, including the National Association of Letter Carriers.
   Cambridge School is holding a cereal drive this week, ending its collection Friday.
   "They’ve done it in the past and it’s successful and we’re so thrilled," Ms. Wolf said
   In addition, the letter carriers in town will be collecting food Saturday. All residents have to do is put donations out by their mailboxes before their mail is delivered.
   "I want to urge everybody to put out food this weekend for the post office to pick up," Ms. Wolf said.
   The food pantry currently helps about 25 families a month, but that number can increase if there is an emergency.
   Ms. Wolf said the pantry needs tuna, canned chicken, beef stew, chili, canned pasta, coffee, tea, canned potatoes, mashed potatoes, Parmalat, macaroni and cheese, rice, baked beans, peanut butter, jelly, pasta, tomato sauce, canned crushed tomatoes, ketchup, mustard, salad dressing, pickles, cake and brownie mix, snacks, popcorn, peanuts and juice.
   "We have no juice or juice boxes," she said.
   Ms. Wolf said the pantry has enough soup and canned vegetables and will hopefully get enough cereal from Cambridge School.
   She said people also can donate gift cards for Stop&Shop and other supermarkets.
   "We’ll go shopping if they don’t want to go shopping," she said.
   Ms. Wolf also has a freezer if people want to donate hot dogs and hamburgers.
   The pantry also is in need of shampoo, soap, toothbrushes, toilet paper and paper towels.
   If people would like to donate food, but cannot leave it out Saturday, the food pantry, located at the Community Center at Woodlot Park on New Road, is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
   Ms. Wolf can be reached at (732) 329-4000 ext. 7674.