The Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ) has partnered with the Hudson County government to reduce food insecurity, operating out of the county’s U.S.S. Juneau Emergency Operations Center in Kearny.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
County Executive Tom DeGise and CFCNJ Vice President Jennifer Nelson thanked county staffers, the representatives from food pantries throughout the county, and CFB employees for working hard in preparing the special Thanksgiving food distribution.
The county provides logistical support, most importantly via the warehouse-sized OEM center, to act as a base of operations in Hudson County for CFBNJ as part of a regular, ongoing relationship apart from today’s event.
“Over the past two years, we have developed a strong partnership with the Community Food Bank of NJ,” DeGise said in a statement.
“We have received food resources enabling us to feed thousands of households in need during the pandemic lockdown, in the difficult times afterward, and now also during this holiday season.”
Yesterday’s event was specifically designed to assist the 35 CFBNJ-affiliated food pantries operating throughout Hudson County’s municipalities for Thanksgiving.
The Hudson County Juneau Emergency Operations Center is the only host site that will be used in 2022 for this holiday distribution.
“The USS Juneau Emergency Operations site is an excellent venue us due to its ability to provide indoor and outdoor drive-up access for our pantry-partners,” added Nelson.
“We are pleased to have forged a strong relationship with Hudson County that is helping make a difference in the lives of so many here.”
The Hudson County Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Roads and Public Property, Department of Parks, and the Hudson County Improvement Authority all provided staff and resources to assist in the Thanksgiving distribution.
CFBNJ is New Jersey’s largest food bank. The non-profit serves more than 800 food pantries and soup kitchens in 15 counties across the state from its two warehouse locations in Hillside and Egg Harbor Township.
In addition the food provided today, CFBNJ presented Hudson County with $10,000 worth of $50 holiday food gift cards that can be used in “gap sites” areas without food pantries but that have residents in need, such as smaller communities like East Newark.
The cards were paid for through donations made at Acme Supermarkets across New Jersey.
