FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bank of America Provides Critical Emergency Relief Funding to The Community FoodBank of New Jersey
New Jersey Non-Profit to Use Funds to Fight Food Insecurity Throughout Pandemic
Hillside, New Jersey—April 22, 2020 – The Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ), the state’s largest anti-hunger, anti-poverty nonprofit, announced today that it has received a grant from Bank of America to help meet the growing need for food assistance in direct response to the coronavirus.
The $1.6 million contribution from Bank of America will help CFBNJ create and distribute emergency meal kits. To date, the organization has provided 20,000 kits, each containing enough nonperishable food for 40 meals. The funds will also help increase distribution of nutritious food to CFBNJ’s network of partner agencies across its 16-county service area. Additionally, CFBNJ has delivered thousands of low-sodium prepared meals per week directly to homebound seniors, distributed 9,000 Family Packs to families of kids without access to school breakfasts and lunches, and continued Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) outreach efforts to connect neighbors in need with long-term food assistance.
Bank of America’s generosity, combined with gifts from other organizations and individuals, is needed now more than ever. Feeding America projects a shortfall of $1.4 billion, $20 million in New Jersey alone, in additional food resources needed to meet the growing demand for food assistance nationwide through the summer.
“With the shuttering of businesses across the state due to the coronavirus, countless people are facing the realities of reduced work hours, layoffs, and missed paychecks. The need for CFBNJ’s services is growing day by day,” said Carlos Rodriguez, President & CEO of The Community FoodBank of New Jersey. “We are so grateful for Bank of America’s decades-long leadership investment in our mission and for this most recent contribution, which will allow us to serve as a lifeline for so many New Jersey residents, some of whom are finding themselves in need for the first time in their lives.”
CFBNJ also intends to leverage a portion of these funds, in partnership with Bank of America, as a matching gift opportunity now and throughout the summer, when the need for hunger relief will likely continue to increase.
“For over 40 years The Community FoodBank of New Jersey has been instrumental in fighting hunger and poverty in New Jersey,” said Alberto Garofalo, New Jersey market president, Bank of America. “We are here to ensure CFBNJ has the resources needed during this current environment to serve our community and fill the emptiness caused by food insecurity.”
Before the coronavirus, more than 660,000 neighbors in need resided in CFBNJ’s service area. Now, the increase in demand for food is about fifty percent in communities that were hit the hardest. In response, CFBNJ supplied food to support 4.8 million nutritious meals in March alone—about 786,000 more meals than usual. To address mounting operational challenges and adapt to changing health concerns, CFBNJ shifted to a three-shift 24-hour operation, working around the clock six days a week to provide for New Jerseyans in need.
Stay informed by visiting cfbnj.org and checking the Community FoodBank of New Jersey’s Facebook (@communityfoodbankofnj), Twitter (@cfbnj) and Instagram (@cfbnj). Those in need of food can visit cfbnj.org/findfood to locate a FoodBank partner near them. Neighbors seeking additional nutrition assistance can receive help applying or recertifying for SNAP over the phone by calling 800-609-3663.
For more information on other NJ food banks and CFBNJ’s Partner Distribution Organizations visit: Food Bank of South Jersey, foodbanksj.org; Fulfill Monmouth & Ocean, fulfillnj.org; Mercer Street Friends, mercerstreetfriends.org; NORWESCAP, norwescap.org; Feeding America, feedingamerica.org.
The Community FoodBank of New Jersey
The Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ), a member of Feeding America®, has been delivering food, help and hope across the state for 45 years. Last year, CFBNJ provided nutritious food for over 50 million meals through its network of more than 1,000 community partners including pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, mobile pantries, and child and senior feeding programs throughout the 12 New Jersey counties it serves (Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset and Union). For our hungry neighbors, the Community FoodBank of New Jersey is the powerful agent of change that fills the emptiness caused by hunger and provides resources that are essential to earning a sustainable living.
Bank of America
At Bank of America, we’re guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better, through the power of every connection. We’re delivering on this through responsible growth with a focus on our environmental, social and governance (ESG) leadership. ESG is embedded across our eight lines of business and reflects how we help fuel the global economy, build trust and credibility, and represent a company that people want to work for, invest in and do business with. It’s demonstrated in the inclusive and supportive workplace we create for our employees, the responsible products and services we offer our clients, and the impact we make around the world in helping local economies thrive. An important part of this work is forming strong partnerships with nonprofits and advocacy groups, such as community, consumer and environmental organizations, to bring together our collective networks and expertise to achieve greater impact. Learn more at about.bankofamerica.com, and connect with us on Twitter (@BofA_News).
Bank of America has delivered more than $2 billion in philanthropic investments since 2009, with approximately $250 million in 2019 alone. In April 2019, the company announced a $5 billion Bank of America Community Homeownership Commitment™ to benefit low- and moderate-income homebuyers and communities across the U.S. over the next five years. Also in 2019, Bank of America Community Development Banking provided a record $4.88 billion in loans, tax credit equity investments and other real estate development solutions. Between 2005 and 2019, Bank of America financed 202,800 affordable housing units. To meet the unique needs of its 12 million small business owners, the company provides advice, solutions and dedicated support. Bank of America maintained its position as the nation’s top small business lender at the end of 2019, with $38.9 billion in total outstanding small business loan balances (defined as business loans in original amounts of $1 million and under), up 7% year over year.
For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for news email alerts.
www.bankofamerica.com
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CFBNJ Contact:
Nicole Williams, Communications & Public Relations Manager
nwilliams@cfbnj.org / 908-355-3663 ext. 282
Bank of America Contact:
Carla Molina, Media Relations Exec
Bank of America
832.283.2681
