New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn participated in a food distribution event at The Food Bank Network of Somerset County, alongside volunteers and Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ) President & CEO Elizabeth McCarthy. The event aimed to address food insecurity issues affecting many families in the state.
“Food insecurity is a real issue facing many New Jersey families and as we approach the holiday season the work of the Food Bank Network of Somerset County is even more important,” said Secretary Wengryn. “The connection of our New Jersey farmers with our food bank, pantries, and soup kitchens, means we can ensure more of our citizens can have a more secure food future.”
The Food Bank Network has been operational since 1982, serving over 32,000 clients annually. It receives donations from various sources including public contributions, religious organizations, and government programs like the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s State Food Purchase Program (SFPP).
“At the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, our goal is to ensure that every one of our neighbors has enough to eat year-round, regardless of their economic circumstances,” stated Elizabeth McCarthy. “This holiday season, specifically, CFBNJ is providing more than 85,000 turkeys, hams, and chicken roasters statewide… We’re thrilled that Secretary Wengryn was able to join us at a distribution today in solidarity with our efforts.”
CFBNJ is recognized as the state’s largest anti-hunger organization. Last year it distributed enough food for over 90 million meals across its network.
Nearly 1 million people in New Jersey face food insecurity challenges. Various food banks receive substantial funding to support their mission against hunger.
“The food we receive from the State and Federal government is a tremendous help,” noted Steve Katz, Executive Director at the Food Bank Network of Somerset County.
