skip to main content skip to main navigation
Photo of Community FoodBank Basket of Bread - Click to enlarge
Part of Governor's Hunger Initiative
For Immediate Release: April 5, 2007
Contact: Lynne Richmond
(609) 633-2954

(TRENTON) – Checks totaling $581,263 were issued on April 4 to emergency feeding operations (EFO) throughout the state to expand and improve the capabilities of their local distributing agencies to store and prepare nutrient dense food items purchased through the State Food Purchase Program.

The program is part of Governor Jon S. Corzine’s Initiative to Fight Hunger, which has distributed so far this fiscal year $2.25 million to purchase nutritious foods with a first priority of buying locally. 

“New Jersey’s food distribution centers have proved to be an invaluable ally in the fight against hunger, but with limited storage capacity there is only so much good work these centers can do,” Governor Corzine said. “These funds will help ensure they have the necessary storage and preparation equipment essential to providing healthy, well-balanced meals for New Jerseyans who need them most.”

Five of the state EFO’s were issued checks that they will use to purchase equipment for their local contracted agencies who work directly with the hungry of their areas.  Community FoodBank of New Jersey received $360,568; the Food Bank of South Jersey, $79,710; the Foodbank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, $42,324; Mercer Street Friends, $25,257; and NORWESCAP, $12,807.  In addition, the EFOs were provided $60,597 to assist with administrative expenses associated with the infrastructure equipment purchases.

“The infrastructure money will be used to buy and upgrade refrigeration units, storage shelves, forklifts and other equipment necessary to run an emergency feeding operation,” New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Charles M. Kuperus said.  “The extra funding complements the resources we have given to the feeding operations to purchase healthy, nutritious foods for those most in need.”

Governor Corzine has proposed an increase in next year’s budget for the State Food Purchase Program to $4 million to be spent entirely on food purchases.  This year’s spending plan allocated $3 million for additional food purchases and $1 million for infrastructure improvements.

The Department of Agriculture operates the Emergency Food Assistance Program, which distributes food donated by the United States Department of Agriculture through a network of 660 food pantries, soup kitchens and other feeding operations.  Last year, the Department distributed more than 10 million pounds of the USDA commodities.