CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION AWARDS GRANTS TO
NEW JERSEY FOOD BANKS

More Than $225,000 in Federal Funding Will Help Food Banks
Distribute and Store Donated Food, Including ‘Jersey Fresh’ Produce


LACEY TOWNSHIP, N.J. – New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Richard E. Constable, III and New Jersey Department of Agriculture Secretary Douglas H. Fisher today announced the awarding of $225,610 in Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funding to six major food banks in the state. The grants will help the food banks better distribute and store donated food, including ‘Jersey Fresh’ fruits and vegetables, so that more individuals in need can be served. Today’s announcement was made at the Lacey Food Bank, which assists more than 500 people living on minimal incomes in Lacey Township.

“The Christie Administration is committed to helping the most vulnerable in our communities, including people in need of food assistance,” said Commissioner Constable. “As a result of these grants, food banks will be better able to serve the towns and cities in New Jersey’s 21 counties, ensuring that more donated food gets to the tables of struggling families.” 

The funding can be used for storage, distribution, and food purchase. It is made available through the DCA Division of Housing and Community Resources’ administration of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), a federal, anti-poverty grant program that funds the operations of a state-administered network of local agencies. The focus on food banks addresses the nutrition component of the CSBG program.

“We are at the height of the New Jersey growing season, with a wide variety of nutritious fruits and vegetables available for the food banks to provide to those in need,” said Secretary Fisher.  “This funding will help food banks improve their storage and distribution of ‘Jersey Fresh’ produce and other food. Our continued partnership with the Department of Community Affairs is benefitting both the hungry and our state’s farmers.”

The FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, which supplies food to the Lacey Food Bank as well as more than 85 other food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters in its coverage area, received a grant award this year. Last year, it distributed approximately 1 million pounds of fresh produce to its clients.

“This funding is a good example of the government, charitable and private sectors coming together to help a growing number of neighbors in need,” said Carlos Rodriguez, executive director of The FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, during today’s announcement. “The grant will help us in our efforts to get nutritious food, including ‘Jersey Fresh’ produce, to families in need. This is so important for maintaining the good health of the 127,000 people the food bank serves.”

Funding to the food banks is based on the poverty level of the counties they serve. A total of $225,610 will be distributed to the following food banks.

CSBG Food Bank Awards

Agency

Amount

Counties Served

Community Food Bank

$149,355

North serves Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, and Union

 

South serves Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, and parts of Burlington

Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties

$23,867

Monmouth, Ocean

Food Bank of South Jersey

$28,212

Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Salem

Mercer Street Friends

$9,850

Mercer

NORWESCAP

$4,791

Hunterdon, Warren and Sussex

Southern Regional Food Distribution (Rural Dev. Corp.  is parent company)

$9,535

Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer and Salem

The DCA’s Division of Housing and Community Resources is committed to building neighborhoods and to providing financial and technical assistance to municipalities, community action agencies and other nonprofit organizations for community and economic development projects that improve the quality of life for low-income, disabled and disadvantaged residents.

The Department of Agriculture administers the federal Emergency Food Assistance Program, which distributes United States Department of Agriculture-donated foods to the food banks, and the State Food Purchase Program, which allocates funds to the food banks for the purchase of nutritious foods, including fresh New Jersey produce.

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