Beginning Monday, Dec. 7 and continuing through Friday, Dec. 18, Atlantic County residents are urged to place non-perishable food items at the curb on their recycling collection day as part of the 30th annual Holiday Food Drive.
Atlantic County Utilities Authority recycling crews will collect the food in conjunction with regularly scheduled recycling pick-ups.
Sponsored by ACUA, the Holiday Food Drive gives residents an easy and convenient way to help families in need while also helping the environment.
All food collected through the Holiday Food Drive will be distributed through the Community FoodBank of New Jersey Egg Harbor Township, which provides the donated food to more than 250 partner agencies for distribution throughout Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties.
These charities include emergency food pantries, homeless shelters, soup kitchens and other charitable feeding programs.
“The Community FoodBank of New Jersey-Egg Harbor Township is grateful for our continued partnership with the ACUA as this year’s food drive comes at a critical time,” noted Denise Hladun, director of External Affairs for the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. “The food collected during this annual drive reflects the generosity of our community and provides essential nutrition to our neighbors in need.”
The Community FoodBank is looking for donations of food items, especially canned tuna and meats, hearty soups, meals in a can and peanut butter. Please do not include perishable or frozen items or food in glass jars.
“Because of COVID-related hardships, Atlantic County is on track to be the most food insecure county in New Jersey,” ACUA President Rick Dovey said. “ACUA’s food drive provides an easy way for people to donate when they put their recycling out. There are over 200,000 people in the Community FoodBank of New Jersey Egg Harbor Township’s service area who rely on the Food Bank and we truly need as many residents as possible to donate to this year’s effort.”
Last year, residents donated 21,506 pounds of non-perishable food items.
“Our goal is to exceed last year’s total and we are always encouraged by the generosity of Atlantic County residents,” Dovey said.
To participate, just fill any bag or box with your food donation and leave it at the curb on your recycling day between Dec. 7-18.
Atlantic County residents not serviced through the ACUA curbside recycling program can participate by bringing their donations to the ACUA at 6700 Delilah Road, or to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey Egg Harbor Township at 6735 Horse Pike, Egg Harbor Township.
To learn more about how you can help contact the Community FoodBank of New Jersey Egg Harbor Township at 609-383-8843 or visit www.cfbnj.org. For more information, call 609-272-6950 or visit www.acua.com/fooddrive.
