The New Jersey Department of State’s Office of Volunteerism has led a statewide effort to deploy AmeriCorps members to assist the Community FoodBank of New Jersey in Hillside following the national disruption of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits that affected over 800,000 New Jersey residents on Nov. 1.
The Office of Volunteerism, partnering with the New Jersey State Police Office of Emergency Management and the New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate, has placed 10 to 15 AmeriCorps members on 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. shifts six days a week since Nov. 3. Members have been packing food boxes and preparing supplies for families experiencing temporary food insecurity due to the SNAP service interruption.
The Office of Volunteerism coordinated AmeriCorps members from across the state, representing the following programs:
- Jewish Renaissance Foundation of Perth Amboy
- New Jersey Community Development of Paterson
- Rutgers University Cooperative Extension Food Waste Reduction Program
- Watershed Ambassadors Program of the NJ Department of Environmental Protection
- Zufall Health Center of Morristown
“We are deeply grateful to the AmeriCorps members who have stepped up in an extraordinary way, volunteering six days a week to pack emergency food boxes for our neighbors in need,” said Elizabeth McCarthy, president and CEO of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. “During this time of uncertainty, their dedication and compassion remind us what community truly means. Thanks to their hard work, thousands of families across New Jersey are receiving the nourishment and hope they deserve.”
The Office of Volunteerism continues to monitor needs at food distribution sites statewide and stands ready to deploy additional support as needed. Food pantries, community kitchens, and other frontline emergency feeding partners continue to welcome volunteer support to bolster their capacities.
