For Immediate Release:
March 27, 2015
Freeholders sponsor April food drive
County’s partnership with FoodBank aims to restock shelves
FREEHOLD, NJ - The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders is continuing its springtime partnership with the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties and collecting non-perishable food for the entire month of April.
“One in every 10 people in Monmouth County receives emergency food from the FoodBank’s network of pantries, soup kitchens and other agencies,” Freeholder John P. Curley said. “The spring is when donations to the Food Bank fall off and Monmouth County is willing to help increase awareness to this problem and take the lead in getting food donations.”
This is the County’s fourth consecutive April food drive. To date, Monmouth County residents have helped send 25 tons, more than 50,000 pounds, of non-perishable food to the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties. This year’s goal is to collect 10,000 pounds of non-perishable food.
Collection bins will be available at many County locations, including the County Hall of Records, Agriculture Building, Care Centers, Longstreet Farm, Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, Belford Ferry Terminal and Monmouth County branch libraries.
The branches of the Monmouth County Library System will be participating all month, but they will add the “Food for Fines” program from April 12-25. Participating locations will be: Headquarters in Manalapan, Eastern Branch in Shrewsbury, Atlantic Highlands, Colts Neck, Hazlet, Howell, Marlboro, Ocean Township, Oceanport, Wall and West Long Branch.
“The County’s libraries and parks are the public gathering places in many communities, so it makes sense that our libraries and parks are key collection points for this annual food drive,” said Freeholder Lillian G. Burry, liaison to the Library System. “The ‘Food for Fines’ program is a good way to get outstanding material returned to the library and help a good cause at the same time.”
The “Food for Fines” program at the libraries works this way: from April 12 through April 25, patrons who have outstanding materials will bring their food to the library counter. The libraries will reduce the fines by $1 for every food item donated. Donation bins will also be available in the libraries for people who do not have fines but want to donate food as well.
Food items suitable for donation are non-perishable, protein-rich foods such as peanut butter, granola bars and tuna fish. Other most needed food items are ready-to-eat canned meals, canned fruits, canned vegetables, instant potatoes, canned and dry soup, canned pork and beans, canned juices, sip-size juices and hot and cold cereal.
“With an increase in distribution from 7 million meals a year in 2012 to now 10 million meals a year, our partnerships have become essential to be able to provide these meals,” said Carlos M. Rodriguez, executive director of the FoodBank. “We are grateful for our partnership with the County, who are standing side-by-side not only with the FoodBank, but with our neighbors in need.”
The County’s partnership with the FoodBank stems from a situation in 2012 in which the County Social Services office was experiencing a backlog processing applications for food stamps. Curley, as liaison to Social Services, declared a food stamp emergency in Monmouth County and immediately hired part-time clerical workers to help ease the backlog.
“When people get turned away from food stamps they turn to the FoodBank,” Curley said.
The County’s Made in Monmouth event set for Saturday, April 11 at Monmouth University will be another opportunity for residents to donate. The one-day showcase and shopping festival of products, all made in Monmouth County, will have food donation collection bins at the entrance. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“The Made in Monmouth vendors are being asked to contribute to Monmouth County’s April food drive, too,” said Freeholder Thomas A. Arnone. “So, when you head over to Made in Monmouth, please consider bringing a nonperishable food donation; admission is free to the event.”
“The FoodBank’s shelves are empty,” Freeholder Deputy Director Serena DiMaso said. “This month long food drive will help the fill the shelves at time of year when donations are unusually low. There are so many residents in need and we all need to do our part to help our friends and neighbors. The need for food does not go away.”
“The 2015 Monmouth County Food Drive is the County’s way of making a difference in the daily lives of some of our neighbors,” Freeholder Director Gary J. Rich Sr. said. “I want to thank our County department directors for already donating 120 pounds of food to get the 2015 Monmouth County Food Drive underway. This April’s food drive is off to a great start.”
April is also National County Government Month, sponsored by the National Association of Counties (NACo), that has been designed to increase awareness of county governments and their operations. The freeholders have chosen the food drive as a way to engage citizens and serve the community.
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2015 Monmouth County Food Drive drop-off locations
Atlantic Highlands, Atlantic Highlands Library, 100 First Ave.
Colts Neck, Colts Neck Library, 1 Winthrop Dr.
Freehold Borough, Hall of Records & Annex, 1 E. Main St.
Freehold Borough, County Clerk's Office, 33 Mechanic St.
Freehold Borough, Prosecutor's Office, 132 Jerseyville Ave.
Freehold Township, Monmouth County Agriculture Building, 4000 Kozloski Rd.
Freehold Township, Human Services Building, 3000 Kozloski Rd.
Freehold Township, Public Works Complex, 250 Center St.
Freehold Township, John L. Montgomery Care Center, 115 Dutch Lane Rd.
Freehold Township, Special Services, 300 Halls Mills Rd.
Hazlet, Hazlet Library, 251 Middle Rd.
Holmdel, Longstreet Farm Visitor Center, Longstreet Road
Howell, Howell Library, 318 Old Tavern Rd.
Howell, Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, 331 Georgia Tavern Rd.
Howell, Monmouth County Fire Academy, 1027 State Route 33
Manalapan, Monmouth County Library Headquarters 125 Symmes Dr., Manalapan
Marlboro, Marlboro Library, 1 Library Ct. & Wyncrest Dr.
Middletown, Belford, Belford Ferry Terminal, 10 Harbor Way
Middletown, Lincroft, Thompson Park Visitor Center, 805 Newman Springs Rd.
Neptune Township, Monmouth County Connection, 3544 Highway 66
Ocean, Ocean Library, 701 Deal Rd.
Oceanport, Oceanport Library, 8 Iroquois Ave.
Shrewsbury, Monmouth County Library Eastern Branch, 1001 Rt. 35
Wall, Wall Library, 2700 Allaire Rd.
Wall, Geraldine L Thompson Care Center, 2350 Hospital Rd., Allenwood
West Long Branch, West Long Branch Library, 95 Poplar Ave.
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