AT&T recently contributed more than $20,000 to three New Jersey organizations to help families in Paterson and Somerset County who are dealing with food insecurity.
Joseph Divis, interim president of AT&T New Jersey, said it’s the right thing to do.
“Food insecurity is a problem in many places, and it’s been exacerbated by the pandemic and disasters like Tropical Storm Ida,” he said. “Our contributions to these organizations will enable them to help New Jerseyans in need.”
The contributions went to the following organizations:
- Food Bank Network of Somerset County ($10,000):The organization used the contribution to purchase food items at discounted bulk rates in order to meet the increasing need of providing food assistance to residents facing food shortages.
- CUMAC ECHO of Paterson ($5,480): This organization is dedicated to addressing the root causes of hunger and poverty. This organization regularly serves more than 2,500 food insecure individuals a month.
- Oasis — A Haven for Women and Children, in Paterson ($5,480): The contribution will help Oasis carry out educational and social service programs that help women enter and succeed in the workforce and help children flourish academically, including focusing on issues related to food insecurity.
In the days immediately following Ida, employees in AT&T’s retail stores in the area collected 135 pounds of nonperishable food that was delivered to one of the organizations, the Food Bank Network of Somerset County, Divis added.
State Sen. Nellie Pou (D-Paterson) said the effort had impact.
“We are extremely grateful to AT&T for contributing more than $10,000 to community organizations in Paterson to combat hunger and food insecurity in the city,” she said. “CUMAC ECHO serves more than 2,500 people every month who would go to bed hungry without their assistance. And Oasis — A Haven for Women and Children provides both hot meals and emergency food bags to women and children living in poverty. AT&T’s support is especially welcome in this holiday season.”
State Sen.-elect Andrew Zwicker (D-Monmouth Junction) agreed.
“Hunger is not a simple problem, and too many members of our communities worry about where their next meal will come from,” he said. “I am grateful for this generous donation from AT&T New Jersey so that the Food Bank Network of Somerset County can continue its mission of distributing food and other basic human needs to those less fortunate in a manner that recognizes and advances self-worth and human dignity.”
