FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Michelle Pantina
Jennifer Petrella
BML Public Relations
973-337-6395
Community FoodBank of New Jersey Thanks Donors, Early Funders and
Agency Partners Amidst Coronavirus Outbreak
New Jersey Non-Profit to Continue Daily Distributions and Create Emergency Meal Kits
throughout Pandemic
Hillside, NJ (March 25, 2020) – The Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ), the state’s largest anti-hunger and anti-poverty organization, would like to today offer a special salute to the early funders who have made its statewide emergency relief efforts amidst the recent COVID-19 outbreak possible: ADP, Battelle, BD, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Karma Foundation, MetLife Foundation, Ocean First Foundation, PSEG Foundation, Russell Berrie Foundation, Sanofi, Sozosei Foundation, Stop & Shop, TIAA and Wawa Foundation. These organizations have been instrumental in providing funding to CFBNJ to support its efforts to continue to serve the food insecure community.
According to a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll, nearly 1 in 5 households in the U.S. is experiencing a layoff or reduction in work hours as a result of COVID-19, and low-income households have been hit hardest. The staggering economic impact of the pandemic will likely cause a dramatic increase in the need for food in the days and weeks ahead. While CFBNJ continues to strategize in real-time with state agencies, the FoodBank will also be maintaining its daily operations, distributing food to a network of over 1,000 agency partners to keep vulnerable individuals and families fed – all work that would not be possible without the help of the companies who contributed funding as soon as the outbreak hit.
“On behalf of the entire Community FoodBank of New Jersey team, I would like to extend a sincere thank you to the corporate partners and so many others who have helped fund our work throughout this outbreak,” said Carlos Rodriguez, President & CEO of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. “We would not be able to do what we do without the help of these outstanding companies, whose donations have enabled us to not only continue our usual work, but to also pivot in real-time to create our Emergency Meal Kits, of which our dedicated staff can produce up to 850 per day – enough to support 34,000 nutritious meals daily. Because of this critical funding, and of course, donations from generous New Jerseyans, we’re continuing to distribute food to help those in need during the COVID-19 crisis.”
In addition to funding from corporate partners, CFBNJ is also relying on donations from community members to benefit the many neighbors in need who are being hit the hardest during the pandemic. Beyond simply spreading the word about CFBNJ’s mission to friends, family and colleagues, a donation of any amount helps the FoodBank provide continued support now more than ever before. Additionally, Kings Supermarkets has partnered with CFBNJ by restarting its Check-Out Hunger campaign to support CFBNJ’s COVID-19 efforts. By adding a simple donation slip at checkout, shoppers can easily contribute a gift of $1, $3 or $5 as they shop for groceries. For additional details, visit CFBNJ.org/coronavirus.
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.
CFBNJ | Funder Salute Release | Page 2 For more information on other NJ food banks and CFBNJ’s Partner Distribution Organizations visit: FoodBank of South Jersey, foodbanksj.org; Fulfill Monmouth & Ocean, fulfillnj.org; Mercer Street Friends, mercerstreetfriends.org; NORWESCAP, norwescap.org; Feeding America, feedingamerica.org.
About 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.
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