Valley Bank on Thursday said it donated $20,000 to provide 60,000 meals to the New Jersey Bankers Association’s 1 Million Meals campaign to address food insecurity.
The campaign aims to raise $70,000 every year for the next five years to support five food banks in the state: the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, Fulfill, Food Bank of South Jersey, NORWESCAP and Mercer Street Friends. Each dollar raised enables the food banks to provide three meals to hungry seniors, parents and children across the state.
“I applaud the New Jersey Bankers Association for bringing together the state’s banks to help eliminate food insecurity in our communities,” Ira Robbins, Valley CEO, said. “Valley is proud to be a lead contributor to the 1 Million Meals campaign and I am inspired by the commitment our employees are making by donating their time working at the Community FoodBank of New Jersey to ensure those in need are provided with meals.”
Supporting food banks is an ongoing priority for Valley, with over 180 employees having volunteered approximately 600 hours at the Community FoodBank of New Jersey in 2022. Through its new Workplace Giving Program, Valley will match 1:1 employee donations to the campaign up to the annual maximum of $500.
“On behalf of New Jersey’s food banks, we at CFBNJ are grateful to the New Jersey Bankers Association for initiating the 1 Million Meals campaign and to Valley Bank for its role as a lead contributor,” Carlos Rodriguez, CEO and president of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, said. “As rising food prices and the continuing effects of the pandemic have exacerbated food insecurity, this support is needed now more than ever as we work to ensure that all of our neighbors have enough to eat.”
Over the years, Valley has provided financial and volunteer support to help eliminate food insecurity in the communities it serves in New Jersey, New York, Florida and Alabama.
