The Food Bank of South Jersey announced June 24 that it received a $1.5 million gift from The Campbell’s Foundation, the philanthropic arm of The Campbell’s Company, to support its new Center for Health, Wellness, and Nutrition. The center is designed to expand access to nutritious food, advance health equity, and provide hands-on education and wellness programs across South Jersey.
The announcement was made at an event commemorating the Food Bank’s 40th anniversary, where community partners, public officials, and regional leaders gathered to explore the new center and hear about the Food Bank’s approach to hunger relief.
Nearly 1 million people in New Jersey were food insecure in 2024, a 22% increase over the previous year, according to Feeding America’s annual Map the Meal Gap study.
“This new Center for Health, Wellness, and Nutrition represents a major step forward in addressing food insecurity through health and education,” said Fred Wasiak, president and CEO for the Food Bank of South Jersey. “It will provide critical resources to empower families and individuals with the tools they need to improve their overall wellbeing.”
Campbell’s investment is the lead gift in the Food Bank’s capital campaign to establish this center, which will house a nutrition education teaching kitchen, SNAP outreach, and community learning spaces – all designed to address the root causes of food insecurity through direct engagement, education, and empowerment. With this new space, the Food Bank is poised to expand and deepen its impact across Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem counties.
“We believe in the power of food to connect people and build stronger communities,” said Kate Barrett, president of The Campbell’s Foundation, which was established in 1953. “The Food Bank of South Jersey has been a critical partner in our work to increase food access and encourage healthy living.”
Campbell’s, which was founded in 1869 in Camden, has long partnered with the Food Bank of South Jersey to address food security and community health, having served as an original funder of the Food Bank when it was formed in 1985. Current joint initiatives include the Camden Food Security Collective and Full Futures, both of which aim to improve food security and nutrition for residents and students of Camden and surrounding areas.
