FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Nicole Williams, Communications & Public Relations Manager
nwilliams@cfbnj.org / 732-798-5213
SIXTH ANNUAL WOMEN FIGHTING HUNGER LUNCHEON FEEDS CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN NEED
Event raises funds for the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, featuring Food Network
Chef Amanda Freitag as guest speaker
Sponsored by PNC Bank and Stop & Shop
HILLSIDE, NJ—March 8, 2022
The Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ) hosted its Sixth Annual Women Fighting Hunger Luncheon on Friday, March 4 at the Park Avenue Club. After holding the event virtually last year, the organization was delighted to welcome guests in person. With the generous sponsorship of PNC Bank and Stop & Shop and the support of the event chairs, table sponsors, individuals, and 375 attendees, CFBNJ raised over $350,000 to feed hungry children and their families.
In New Jersey, about 800,000 people are food insecure, including 200,000 children. Without adequate access to nutritious food, students can’t learn in school, play with friends, or be their best selves. To combat this problem, CFBNJ distributes hundreds of thousands of meals annually through its Family Pack program, which provides supplemental food for the weekend, when kids don’t get school meals.
The Sixth Annual Women Fighting Hunger Luncheon was chaired by Jill Gateman of PNC Bank, Stefanie Shuman of Stop & Shop, Wendy Lazarus, Susan Present, Judy Spires, Ashley Washington, and Roby Weinreich.
The Luncheon began at 11 am with a volunteer hour, during which attendees packed 390 Family Packs that included oatmeal, milk, tuna, rice, and canned vegetables. CFBNJ will donate all of the Family Packs to First Avenue School in Newark, a Family Pack-participating school that was highlighted at the event. Guests also donated shelf-stable milk, plantbased milk, peanut butter, sunflower butter, and jelly to a drive that collected more than 1,800 pounds of food.
The event’s lunch and formal program featured an interview with Cedar Grove native Chef Amanda Freitag, worldrenowned chef, Food Network Personality, judge on “Chopped,” and author. She spoke about her work, her love of food and her passion for fighting food insecurity.
“Food is love, food is medicine,” Amanda said. “We eat when we’re happy, we eat when we’re sad, and it’s how we socialize. Everyone deserves to have adequate access to nutritious food. I’m thrilled to help CFBNJ generate support for the fight against hunger in my home state by sharing my passions and firsthand experiences at the Sixth Annual Women Fighting Hunger Luncheon.”
The program was moderated by NBC 4 New York Anchor Natalie Pasquarella and also featured testimonials from staff at a Family Pack-participating school.
“This is a very important issue to me – as a woman, a mother and a member of the NBC 4 New York family,” Natalie said. “In our annual NBC 4 Feeding our Families campaign, we remind viewers that food insecurity can strike anyone at any time, no matter where you live or work. That’s why I was so honored to moderate the CFBNJ’s Sixth Annual Women Fighting Hunger Luncheon. Hungry children face greater challenges, but together, we can be part of the solution.”
“For the past two years, we at CFBNJ have been working harder than ever, day in and day out, feeding our neighbors in need,” said Carlos Rodriguez, President & CEO of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. “Children and families are among those who have suffered the most from the pandemic’s economic impact. Where there’s a hungry child, there’s a hungry family. As we come back together in person for this year’s Sixth Annual Women Fighting Hunger Luncheon, we commit ourselves to raising the awareness and funds needed to help all of our neighbors thrive.”
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The Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ), a member of Feeding America®, has been delivering food, help and hope across the state for more than 45 years. Last year, CFBNJ provided nutritious food for over 85 million meals through its network of more than 800 community partners including pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, mobile pantries, and child and senior feeding programs throughout the 15 New Jersey counties it serves. 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.