EDITORIAL: The South Brunswick Post is asking its readers to help the township’s food pantry and assistance programs, to ensure they are flush with food and cash.
South Brunswick is a relatively affluent community.
It is classified in the second highest socio-economic category by the state Department of Education. Housing costs have been skyrocketing over the last few years, with new homes selling regularly for more than $300,000 and $400,000 and 40-year-old Kendall Park ranchers going for as much as $200,000.
But that does not mean everyone is doing well. There is a small minority of families and individuals in town who need help, some regularly, some occasionally.
"Although we are considered an upper-middle class community, we have without question a pocket of ‘working poor’ people who literally live from paycheck to paycheck," township Welfare Director LouAnne Wolf said.
The numbers are startling. The township’s assistance program aided 2,969 families over the course of 2000 up 800 from 1999 providing food, cash, help with gas and electric bills, medication. There were 199 families assisted during the winter holidays (up 32 from 1999) and 321 served by the pantry over the course of the year, up 74.
That’s why the South Brunswick Post is asking its readers to help the township’s food pantry and assistance programs, to ensure they are flush with food and cash.
Beginning this week, the Post will attempt to shed some light on these often invisible "pockets of need" in the community with a year-long series, "Pockets of Need," in the hopes that readers will find it in their hearts to open their wallets and offer some aid.
Township families who get food from the pantry aren’t destitute. They are people who happen to be down on their luck, or in need of just a little help each month. Often they need that help because of crisis: unemployment, underemployment, unexpected medical bills.
To help, the township has several programs:
the township food bank, which temporarily stocks households with packaged foods such as canned vegetables, soup, cereal, pasta and other supplies;
the crisis intervention program, which offers some financial support during emergency situations;
the state-funded welfare program, which works with qualified families and individuals;
and the Salvation Army program, run with Salvation Army funds.
The Post plans to showcase these programs over the next several months and introduce readers to the volunteers who make the program work and some of the families who need help.
The fact is, giving should be an ongoing effort and not one relegated to the holiday season. Anything you can do will be appreciated.
The pantry generally needs snack foods, jelly, tomato sauce, canned tuna and canned fruit, Parmalaat milk, canned chili, stew, Spaghetti-O’s and ravioli, cereal and other nonperishable goods. It also generally needs household products and paper goods.
Contributions can be dropped off between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. weekdays at the Senior Center, Rt. 522, Monmouth Junction. The pantry also accepts donation of food vouchers from local supermarkets.
It can be reached by phone at (732) 329-4000, ext. 677.
Help if you can.