For County’s Hungry, Food Bank’s a Godsend

COURT HOUSE – It’s heart-wrenching at any time of the year but particularly at Christmas that there are adults, children, and families, who go hungry each day in the midst of such plenty including in this county.
The Community Food Bank of New Jersey is an organization that addresses that critical need. The Food Bank is recognized as the state’s largest anti-hunger and anti-poverty organization working with thousands of volunteers, donors, and partners to distribute 50 million pounds of food annually. Partners include Bank of America, BJs and JP Morgan Chase.
The Food Bank also helps those in need focus on getting their legitimate benefits under federal nutrition programs, culinary training for follow-on employment, and offers a free four-month culinary and life skills program to equip students for shopping, preparing meals and food budgeting.
According to Food Bank information, nearly 1 million in the Garden State are “food insecure” meaning they don’t know if they have enough to feed themselves and their families. Included are 300,000 children who are termed “food insecure.”
Of those million, 80,000 people in South Jersey face hunger and often skip meals to budget for other needs, making a very bad situation even worse.
According to Food Bank statistics, 47 percent of households the organization serves have at least one member with a paying job.
The Food Bank works with more than 300 community partners to get food to people in need. In some areas of Cape May County, there are not enough soup kitchens and food pantries to fill the demand.
According to information provided by the Food Bank’s vice president for the Cape May County area, Richard Uniacke, the Southern Branch of the Community Food Bank of New Jersey feeds Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic counties with Cape May County registering the highest percentage of child food insecurity in the state  or one in five children.  
“Last year, we distributed approximately 1.5 million pounds of food to 42 partner agencies in Cape May County. Our aim is to provide much, much more. Some of our key partners who rely on us for food in Cape May County are Bethel Commandment (Whitesboro); C.A.R.A (Coalition Against Rape and Abuse);  First Baptist of Woodbine; Holy Redeemer;  St. Maximillian Kolbe and Lazarus House,” said Uniacke.
Beyond its core function of distributing food through partner charities, Uniacke described a few of the Food Bank’s other activities in the county including “this past summer, we had six sites providing free summer meals in CApe May County, totaling 10,000 meals in 2017.
“Sites where we distributed those meals were Cape May Elementary School;  Asbury United Methodist Church;  Cape May Family Success Center; Woodbine Elementary School;  Caring for Kids; and Seashore Learning Center.”
The Food Bank operates mobile food pantries, and in Cape May County one of those vehicles visits Rio Grande each month feeding 80 households.
Beginning in 2018 there will be two visits each month, rather than one.
“Our new Family Pack program provides food for the weekend to 25 students each week at Woodbine Elementary School.  We provide food monthly to the Cape May campus of Atlantic Cape Community College for 50 food insecure students, and we distribute fresh produce and bread at seven senior facilities in Cape May County each month.”
 Uniacke noted that regarding support the Food Bank welcomes financial donations “with each $1 donated providing $8 worth of food to the organization’s agencies and those we serve, due to the significant scale at which we operate. This is the most effective way to support us,” he explained.
“We also conduct food drives and donations, partner with all kinds of groups and agencies, and organize summer feeding sites so that when the school year ends, we then sponsor another crucial child feeding program to offer kids the meals they relied on during the school year. 
“Sites such as apartment complexes, camps, parks, anywhere kids gather, provide safe places for children to enjoy a nutritious breakfast, lunch or dinner at no cost. Last year, the CFBNJ was able to offer almost 10,000 meals to children in the county.  Unfortunately, even with our efforts, the data shows that 88 percent of kids eligible to receive these summer meals are not getting them.  We are seeking partners who are willing to offer their space and hands to help throughout the summer months, and help fill the bellies of our hungry kids.”
Uniacke provided a few observations from those among the most vulnerable in the county who have relied on the Food Bank’s services although wished to remain anonymous:
“I am so happy we have more food, now my mom can have seconds too.”
“Thank you for feeding my family.”
“I am so grateful; it is hard to live hand-to-mouth and watch my children have no extras. To see them be able to fill themselves with pancakes is amazing.”
“My husband was laid off from work, and he is too proud to go the food bank, it is a relief that my children are now well fed over the weekend.”
Most worry about gaining a few pounds over the holidays because of the plethora of indulgences that confront them at every turn. Meanwhile, there are many, including children, for whom an adequate breakfast is that indulgence.
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.