OceanFirst Bank on Monday announced it helped ten nonprofit organizations in its market area to apply for and obtain Small Business Recovery Grants totaling $50,000 through a program created by the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (FHLBNY).
The ten grants, designed to assist eligible organizations who have faced economic challenges, will assist nonprofit organizations committed to addressing hunger and food insecurity.
Nearly one million people in New Jersey are food insecure, a 22% increase over the previous year, according to Feeding America’s annual Map the Meal Gap study.
“The Small Business Recovery Grant Program is a great opportunity for OceanFirst Bank to help support our local nonprofit partners and the important work they are doing to aid our communities,” George Destafney, OceanFirst Bank chief community banking officer, said. “We are so pleased to be able to assist ten organizations to receive important resources that will benefit our neighbors struggling with food insecurity. Our congratulations and appreciation to the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York for another successful Small Business Recovery Grant round.”
Under the Small Business Recovery Grant Program, banks such as OceanFirst, which are members of the FHLBNY, identify qualified small-business and nonprofit customers who are eligible to receive the grant awards.
OceanFirst Bank facilitated Small Business Recovery Grants of $5,000 for each of the following organizations, for a total of $50,000:
- In New Jersey:
- Cathedral Soup Kitchen, Camden
- Community Services Inc of Ocean County, Stafford
- Freehold Area Open Door, Freehold
- Meals on Wheels Mercer, Pennington
- Meals on Wheels of Greater New Brunswick, New Brunswick
- Mercy Center, Asbury Park
- Move for Hunger, Neptune
- Love Ministries Outreach, Rancocas
- Lunch Break, Red Bank
And in New York:
- Friendly Fridge, Bronx
“Meals on Wheels is thrilled to receive a $5,000 grant from OceanFirst Bank. This incredible support will help us provide more meals and cover essential expenses, continuing our mission to deliver nutritious meals and positively impact our seniors’ lives,” Shareka Fitz, executive director, Meals on Wheels Greater New Brunswick, said.
Gwendolyn Love, Executive Director, Lunch Break, added, “The $5,000 grant from OceanFirst Bank will help ensure efficient kitchen and pantry operations, providing healthy and nutritious meals to food-insecure families and individuals in our community.”
