Beginning Monday, Dec. 5 and continuing through Friday, Dec. 16, Atlantic County residents can easily donate non-perishable food items to those in need as part of the Atlantic County Utilities Authority’s 32nd annual Holiday Food Drive.
To participate, residents can place donations in a clearly labeled bag by their recycling bin on their scheduled day during the two-week period.
ACUA’s recycling crew will collect the food and deliver it to 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 in need throughout Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties.
These charities include emergency food pantries, homeless shelters, soup kitchens and other charitable feeding programs.
“Every year, the ACUA food drive makes such a difference for struggling South Jersey residents,” the FoodBank’s Food Sourcing Manager Colette Kraus said. “Hunger hurts even more during the holidays, but together, we can ensure special holiday meals for all of 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.
Nearly 70,000 people in Atlantic, Cape May, and Cumberland Counties are food insecure, including 1 in 5 children.
“Inflation has impacted many struggling families, which has increased demand on the food bank. Our region continues to struggle, and many of our neighbors continue without basic necessities,” ACUA President Rick Dovey said.
He continued, “The food drive has been successful in the past thanks to the generosity of Atlantic County residents, and we hope to encourage as many people as possible to donate to this year’s effort.”
Last year, residents donated 29,348 pounds of non-perishable food.
“Our goal is to exceed last year’s total,” Dovey said.
The food bank encourages residents to place their donations in reusable bags, which can be donated to patrons of the food bank.
Atlantic County residents not serviced through the ACUA curbside recycling program can bring donations to the ACUA Administrative Building at 6700 Delilah Road, or to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey’s Southern Branch located in Egg Harbor Township at 6735 Black Horse Pike.
To learn more about how you can help, contact the Community FoodBank of New Jersey’s Southern Branch at 609-383-8843 or visit www.cfbnj.org.
For more information, call 609-272-6950 or visit www.acua.com/fooddrive.
