For Immediate Release:
April 1, 2019

Freeholders sponsor annual April food drive
County’s partnership with Fulfill aims to restock shelves

FREEHOLD – The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders is continuing its springtime partnership with Fulfill, formerly known as the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean, and collecting non-perishable food for the entire month of April.

“As the liaison to the County’s Department of Human Services, I am really excited to get involved with the food drive this year and try to make it our most successful yet,” said Freeholder Susan M. Kiley. “I hope you will join me in donating non-perishable food items that will feed our friends and neighbors who are experiencing hunger.”

This is the eighth consecutive year the County has partnered with Fulfill to conduct the April food drive for protein rich, non-perishable food. Food items suitable for donation include peanut butter, granola bars and tuna fish. Other needed food items include ready-to-eat canned meals, canned fruits, canned vegetables, instant potatoes, canned and dry soup, canned pork and beans, canned juices, sip-size juices as well as hot and cold cereal.

Library patrons who have outstanding materials can bring food to the library counter during National Library Week, which runs from April 7 to 13. The libraries will reduce the fines by $1 for every food item donated.

“The Monmouth County Library System is a major public gathering place in many municipalities where residents can use these locations to serve as a key collection point for this food drive,” said Freeholder Lillian G. Burry, liaison to the Library System. “During National Library Week, library patrons can have their overdue books and fines forgiven through the popular ‘Food for Fines’ program, a program to get outstanding material returned to libraries while helping with a wonderful cause.”

The branches of the Monmouth County Library System will be participating all month. Locations include: Library’s Headquarters in Manalapan, Eastern Branch in Shrewsbury, Allentown, Atlantic Highlands, Colts Neck, Hazlet, Holmdel, Howell, Marlboro, Ocean Township, Oceanport, Wall and West Long Branch.

In addition, collection bins will be available at most County locations, including the Hall of Records, the County Clerk’s Office, Sheriff’s Office, Prosecutor’s Office, Agriculture Building, Longstreet Farm, Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center and the Belford Ferry Terminal.

Food donations will also be accepted at Made in Monmouth.

“If you plan to attend the free Made in Monmouth event on April 13 at Monmouth University, please consider bringing a donation for the County’s food drive with Fulfill,” said Freeholder Director Thomas A. Arnone, liaison to the Division of Economic Development. “The one day, shop local event will have food donation collection bins at the entrance.”

April is National County Government Month, sponsored by the National Association of Counties (NACo). NACo’s purpose is to increase public awareness of county governments, their operations and services. The Board of Chosen Freeholders believes the food drive with Fulfill is an excellent way to help achieve this goal.

“Nationwide and here in our County, food bank operations face periods of greatest need between January and August, a time outside of traditional periods of giving and volunteering coinciding with the holiday season,” said Freeholder Kiley. “With the residents’ assistance, the Board of Chosen Freeholders is determined to assist Fulfill in their mission to make sure that ‘Hunger Won’t Win Here.’”

For more information about food assistance and the Division of Social Services, go to www.VisitMonmouth.com.

2019 Monmouth County Food Drive drop-off locations

Atlantic Highlands	Atlantic Highlands Library	100 First Ave.
Allentown	Allentown Library	16 S. Main Street
Colts Neck	Colts Neck Library	1 Winthrop Dr.
Eatontown	Fort Monmouth Recreation Center	2566 Guam Lane
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	Sheriff's Office	2500 Kozloski Rd.
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	Election Offices & Special Services	300 Halls Mills Rd.
Hazlet	Hazlet Library	251 Middle Rd.
Holmdel	Holmdel Library	4 Crawfords Corner 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.
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.
Middletown, Lincroft	Thompson Park Administration Building	805 Newman Springs Rd.
Neptune Township	Monmouth County Connection	3544 Highway 66
Ocean	Ocean Township 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.
West Long Branch	West Long Branch Library	95 Poplar Ave.

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