Volunteers needed for holiday season
By: Stephanie Brown
The holiday season is just around the corner, and food pantry organizations want to remind everybody not to forget those who are less fortunate.
Pantries in Monroe and Jamesburg are stocking up to provide needy families with Thanksgiving dinner baskets.
Monroe Township Food Pantry director Bonnie Leibowitz said the Office on Aging, Friends of the Senior Center, and the Kiwanis Club of Rossmoor will be making over 100 Thanksgiving dinner baskets.
Ms. Leibowitz said The Regency Culture Club is holding a collection for the turkeys, which are still needed for the baskets. The Kiwanis Club of Rossmoor is providing all the trimmings.
She said that while the pantry is in good shape for the holidays, non-holiday foods, such as cereal, macaroni and cheese, and pastas are always in need. However, Ms. Leibowitz asked that people note the expiration date on items they wish to donate.
"One of our concerns is a lot of people empty their cabinets, but, in their good nature, forget to look at the expiration date," she said.
Monetary donations are also accepted. Checks can be made out to the Friends of the Senior Center or the Kiwanis Club of Rossmoor, Ms. Leibowitz said.
Donations may be brought to the Senior Center located on the lower level of the Municipal Center.
The Presbyterian Church of Jamesburg’s Deacons Food Cupboard expects to provide 75 families each with a Thanksgiving dinner basket on Nov. 18.
April Fordham, a member of the welfare committee that oversees the cupboard, said many items are still needed, including turkeys and canned meats, like canned hams, Spam and chili.
In addition, the cupboard is running low on paper products and toiletries.
"This time of year we get a lot of stuffing and that’s great but we’re really lacking on personal items," Ms. Fordham said.
Monetary donations in the form of a check made out the Presbyterian Board of Deacons also are welcome and can be given by calling the church office at (732) 521-1711.
Turkey and canned meats donations can be dropped off at the First Baptist Church of Jamesburg located at 15 Half Acre Road, which is the pantries’ temporary home, on Nov. 18 beginning at 8 a.m. All other food donations can be dropped off at the same location Nov. 11. Jamesburg Boy Scout Troop 54 and Cub Scout Pack 54 will hold a food drive beginning Saturday as part of the organization’s national Scouting for Food campaign.
Denise Halpin, who is organizing the drive, said Scouts will distribute grocery bags around town Saturday that people can fill with donations. The bags will be collected Nov. 11 and taken to the Deacons’ food cupboard.
The Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, Jamesburg Lodge 2180, is also holding a food drive to benefit the cupboard.
The drive began Oct. 23 and runs until Nov. 15.
Drop-off boxes are located at the Elks Lodge, located at 74 West Railroad Ave. and at Corinthian Capital Group, located at 34 West Railroad Ave., said organizer Bill Orpin.
"Think about the people that are less fortunate that will not be able to celebrate Thanksgiving," Mr. Orpin said.

