Beginning Monday, Dec. 6 and continuing through Friday, Dec. 17, Atlantic County residents are urged to place non-perishable food items at the curb on their recycling collection day as part of the Atlantic County Utilities Department’s 31st annual Holiday Food Drive.
ACUA recycling crews will collect the food when picking up regularly scheduled recycling stops.
The Holiday Food Drive gives residents an easy and convenient way to help neighbors in need, while helping the environment.
All food collected through the Holiday Food Drive will be distributed through the Community FoodBank of New Jersey Southern Branch in Egg Harbor Township, which provides the donated food to more than 300 partner agencies for distribution to those less fortunate 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 in Egg Harbor Township is grateful for our continued partnership with the ACUA as we are purchasing more food than in the past due to a decline in food donations,” the food bank’s Director of External Affairs Denise Hladun said. “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.
“Regrettably, 60,000 of our South Jersey neighbors struggle with hunger, with 1 in 6 local children affected,” ACUA President Rick Dovey said.
Dovey continued, “Our region continues to struggle and many of our neighbors go without some of the most basic things. We are always encouraged by the generosity of Atlantic County residents, and we hope to get as many people as possible to donate to this year’s effort.”
Last year, residents donated 37,120 pounds of non-perishable food.
To participate, just fill any bag or box with your donation and leave at the curb on your recycling day between Dec. 6-17.
Atlantic County residents not serviced through the ACUA curbside recycling program can bring donations to the ACUA at 6700 Delilah Road, or to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey Southern Branch located at 6735 Horse Pike in Egg Harbor Township.
