(HILLSIDE) – With inventories of canned goods and other groceries
down and a shortfall in holiday donations, the
Community FoodBank of New Jersey in Hillside received
a much-needed boost today  from New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Charles M. Kuperus, who
hand delivered a grant check for $46,021. FoodBank
officials say the shortfall occurred after assisting
those in other parts of the country impacted by
recent hurricanes.
“While we are proud to have aided the victims of devastating hurricanes,
we must continue to remember the plight of the hungry closer to home,” said
Secretary Kuperus. “Grant money we have secured will certainly assist the
Community FoodBank in replenishing its supplies as we get into the holiday season.
However, it is vital that people continue to donate whatever they can to help
feed needy New Jersey families.”
From Left to Right: Kathy Kuser, Dir. of the Div. of Food & Nutrition,
Kathleen DiChiarra, of the Community FoodBank, Secretary Kuperus, and Hope Holland,
Coordinator of the Emergency Food Assistance Program.
The funding is part of a $500,000 grant for the Department of Agriculture’s
emergency feeding organizations. The money comes from the Temporary Assistance
to Needy Families (TANF) program, a federal cash assistance program for welfare
clients, administered in the state by the Department of Human Services.
Last week, Acting Governor Richard Codey made $25,000 from the Department of
Community Affairs available to the FoodBank, which enabled the agency to purchase
3,300 turkeys for Thanksgiving distribution.
Kathleen DiChiara, Executive Director of the Community FoodBank, says their inventory
of canned goods and other groceries is down by about 800,000 pounds from this
time last year. They sent five trailer loads of food and diapers to the Gulf
Coast, in response to the disastrous hurricanes and many of the food industry
donors they rely on also responded to the emergency need down south.
“We are grateful that the State of New Jersey and many individual donors
have responded to our need for turkeys and funds this Thanksgiving season,” said
Kathleen DiChiara, executive director of the FoodBank. “Our major challenge
for the months ahead is to continue to provide emergency food for the growing
number of New Jersey families who must turn to food pantries and soup kitchens.
A growing number of the working poor and those on fixed incomes cannot stretch
their paychecks to cover a trip to the grocery store. We have to be there for
those families, and we are counting on the generosity of New Jersey’s citizens.”
The Community FoodBank of New Jersey distributes food to more than 1,500 member
agencies throughout the state, serving more than 500,000 low-income people annually.
The agency distributes 23 million pounds of food and other groceries in 18 New
Jersey counties, as well as 1.7 million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables.
The Community FoodBank is the largest of the Department of Agriculture’s
six contracted emergency food organizations throughout the state. The organizations
distribute United States Department of Agriculture donated commodities allocated
through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), a federal program administered
in New Jersey through the state Department of Agriculture. The Department contracts
with emergency food organizations to distribute federally donated food to needy
individuals and families through a statewide network of 660 local pantries, soup
kitchens and homeless shelters.
 From October 2004 through September 2005, the Community FoodBank distributed
in excess of 5.5 million pounds of USDA commodities.
While at the FoodBank, the Secretary also assisted New York Giants football players
and corporate volunteers in sorting food and clothing and distributing holiday
food items.
“As families around New Jersey celebrate Thanksgiving, we must not forget
those less fortunate than us who confront the issue of hunger every day,” said
Secretary Kuperus. “While the problem may seem more pronounced during the
holidays, the Department of Agriculture works cooperatively with communities
year-round to battle hunger.”
Secretary Kuperus assists a Community FoodBank member agency load food
for distribution to needy families.
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