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The Have A Heart Food Drive, so named because it runs through Valentine's Day, is launched each January by the Woodbridge Department of Health and Human Services and the We Feed Woodbridge Food Bank Committee. It was established in 1995 to address the problem of a traditionally low post-holiday food bank supply.

“We are asking people to extend their holiday season generosity into the New Year,” says Mayor Pelzman. “It is crucial that we keep the food pantries well-stocked through the dead of winter.”

The food donations are disbursed through distribution centers at St. James Church, St. Cecelia's Church, First Congregational Church, First Presbyterian Church of Avenel, First Presbyterian Church of Iselin, First Presbyterian Church of Woodbridge, Trinity Episcopal Church and Congregation Adath Israel of Woodbridge.

Last year, 10,100 pounds of food were collected during the Have A Heart campaign, says Peter Barcellona , 2005 Have A Heart chairman and Woodbridge Department of Health and Human Services employee. “We would love to surpass that total,” he adds.

Through February 14, 2005, non-perishables may be brought to the Woodbridge Public Health Center, 2 George Frederick Plaza, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. weekdays.

Food receptacles have also been placed in the Woodbridge Municipal Building at 1 Main Street, the Department of Public Works garage at 225 Smith Street in Keasbey and the Woodbridge Main Library at 1 George Frederick Plaza.

According to a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture report, 12 million American families – 11.2 percent of all U.S. households – are at some time during the year uncertain of having, or unable to acquire, enough food for all their members.

“It is so important to keep the food pantries well-stocked for those in our township who need it,” says Mayor Pelzman. “The need is not only there during the holidays, but throughout the year.”

Many Township schools contribute to the Have A Heart campaign, with teachers turning the food drive logistics into classroom curriculum exercises. Students create posters, flyers, graphs and other learning aids that apply lesson plans and problem-solving methods to the project. Fourth-grade teacher Kristie Manente of Robert Mascenik School 26 says it is a task her students enjoy. “They do the full gamut of organizing, collecting and sorting,” says Ms. Manente. “It is an excellent exercise in civic responsibility,”