By Somerset County Board of Freeholders
County officials, federal and state legislators and food bank supporters this week launched the 18th annual Curbing Hunger food drive to help boost food supplies at the Food Bank Network of Somerset County, the Franklin Township Food Bank and other local food pantries serving Somerset County residents.
“More people than ever before are struggling to make ends meet,” said Freeholder Director Patricia Walsh. “Since the recession began, the Food Bank Network of Somerset County has seen a 25-percent increase in the number of families it serves. Donations have dropped off as corporations, organizations and individuals have had to cut their expenses.”
Somerset County residents have a quick, easy way to help:
Orange plastic bags were distributed to county households in May – look for them tied to the handle of your blue recycling bucket.
If you did not receive a bag, you can use a regular plastic grocery bag and write “FOOD” on it with a waterproof marker.
Place canned food donations in the bags and leave them at the curb on your regularly scheduled recycling collection days from June 4 through 29.
High on the list of needed items are Parmalat milk, canned meat and fish, “meals-in-a-can” such as pasta, stews and meaty soups, canned tomato sauce, canned fruits, and peanut butter and jelly in plastic jars. Perishables and food in glass containers cannot be accepted.
“The Curbing Hunger June food drive is a unique community partnership of the public and private sectors,” said Curbing Hunger Inc. Board President Chuck Knill. “When all the partners’ contributions come together, it makes a major impact on the Somerset County Food Bank supplies during the summer.
“Our program is truly neighbors helping neighbors,” he said. “I urge each and every one of you to help spread the word. Tell your neighbors to take those orange bags off the cans and fill them with food. Send out emails to other friends. Post it on your social-network sites such as Facebook. Get the word out so that we can exceed our 50,000-pound goal. If we all give a little, we can make a big difference.”
Food Bank Network Executive Director Marie Scannell said her organization is now serving more than 800 families a month, which includes more than 3,000 individuals. Many people who were previously using the food bank only occasionally for emergencies now are regular visitors. Some who previously donated to the agency now are clients themselves.
“The Food Bank’s supplies have never been as low as they are right now,” she said. “Even more than in previous years, we’re really looking forward to the Curbing Hunger Month food drive to be a success.” She announced that some residents already have gotten a jump on the program – more than 8,000 pounds of food was collected curbside during the latter part of May.
The Curbing Hunger campaign is a joint effort of the Somerset County Board of Freeholders, the county Recycling Center, county and municipal public works departments, the Food Bank Network of Somerset County and Curbing Hunger Inc.
Financial supporters of the program are the Courier News and MyCentralJersey.com. St. Mark’s Episcopal Church of Basking Ridge is a founding sponsor. The Somerset Patriots also support the program through scoreboard announcements and by hosting Curbing Hunger Night at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, slated for June 7 this year.
Curbing Hunger started as a pilot program in Somerset County in 1995 and was expanded to several other counties in New Jersey. Since then, more than 2 million pounds of food have been collected statewide, valued at $2.8 million. More than half a million pounds have been collected in Somerset County alone.
Food supplies at food banks and food pantries are traditionally low during the summer months, when school lunch programs are closed and donations decline due to vacations and the lack of major holiday food drives. That’s why the annual Curbing Hunger food collection is conducted in June.
Anyone wishing to make a monetary donation may send a check to Curbing Hunger Inc., P.O. Box 202, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920. For more information, call (908) 344-5571.
