Food pantry setting up collection points in Edison on May 12

The Hands of Hope Food Pantry, located at St. James Episcopal Church on Woodbridge Avenue, will hold its first annual Fund Collection on Saturday, May 12, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at four intersections: Route 1 and Old Post Road, Route 1 and Old Post Road, Route 27 and Vineyard Road, and Route 27 and Plainfield Avenue. Collections will also be done in front of 2 Wal-Mart on Route 27 and Stop & Shop on Route 1.

Jackie Godesky, president of Hands of Hope, said the Fund Collection is being held because to help with the traditionally low collections food pantries see during the late spring and summer.

“Donations are down and demand is up,” she said. “Children are out of school, thus no free breakfast or lunches, so the burden falls on local food pantries.”