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Money to Assist in Food Purchases

For Immediate Release: October 3, 2014
Contact: Lynne Richmond 
(609) 633-2954
lynne.richmond@ag.state.nj.us 

(TRENTON) – New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher today announced the distribution of almost $28,000 to New Jersey’s six food banks to supplement their food supplies.  The funding represents two years of contributions through the Community Food Pantry Fund, a state income tax form check-off program.

“New Jersey residents have again shown their generosity to their neighbors who find themselves in need to provide food for their families,” said Secretary Fisher.  “We encourage state taxpayers to seek out this check-off on their income tax form and donate to this worthy cause.”

Funds were distributed to:  Community Foodbank of New Jersey, Hillside, $18,277; Food Bank of South Jersey, Pennsauken, $3,496; FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, Neptune, $3,216; Southern Regional Food Distribution Center, Vineland, $1,193; Mercer Street Friends Food Bank, Ewing, $1,226; and NORWESCAP, Phillipsburg, $487.

The fund was the result of recommendations from the state’s Hunger Prevention Advisory Committee in an effort to create an on-going funding stream to assist with the acquisition of emergency food to enhance the emergency food provider system. 

The check-off was first available on the 2010 tax year forms.  It allows taxpayers to either contribute a portion of their tax refund or make a donation.  Money collected for the fund administered by the Department of Agriculture must be used exclusively for food purchases.   Those wishing to contribute will find the check-off item on their NJ-1040 income tax form.

Governor Christie and the State Legislature allocated $6,818,000 for the current fiscal year’s New Jersey Department of Agriculture State Food Purchase Program (SFPP).  That money is distributed quarterly to the state’s six food banks for the purchase of healthy foods, with an emphasis on buying produce from New Jersey farmers.  The SFPP is in its eighth year.

The Department also distributes United States Department of Agriculture-donated food to the six food banks through the Emergency Food Assistance Program.