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MAYOR JOHN E. McCORMAC & COLONIA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS KICK-OFF FIRST-EVER ELECTION DAY FOOD DRIVE

March 14, 2007

Voters Asked to Bring Canned Goods to Polling Locations as Part of Year-Long Effort to Keep Food Pantries Supplied

Woodbridge Township Mayor John E. McCormac, along with Colonia High School students, today announced the kick-off of Woodbridge Township’s “Election Day” food drive – a first-of-its-kind effort geared to have voter’s drop-off canned goods at their polling location when they go to cast their ballot on Election Day.

“The various food drive programs are, without doubt, one of the most important efforts we as a community can participate in,” said Mayor McCormac. “I am pleased to announce that the Election Day food drive program was the idea of Colonia High School teacher Joyce Brown and that she and students from the Junior and senior class at Colonia High School will coordinate the program. Hunger knows no season and no boundary. It’s crucial that we work every day to collect food as we work to help provide the necessities of life to our neighbors and families who might otherwise go hungry.”

According to Mayor McCormac, the Election Day food drive asks voters to bring canned goods or non-perishable foods to their polling locations for drop-off as they go to vote. The food drive program will be in place for all elections – the general election in November, the primary election in May, School Board elections in April and the various fire district elections. Colonia High School students will work with the Board of Elections and Town Hall to place food drop-off containers at more than 60 polling locations throughout the Township. The students will then collect the containers at the close of elections and take the food to the Township Health Center where it will be sorted and distributed to food pantries.

Peter Barcellona, Chairman of the “We Feed” Food Bank Committee, noted that the recent “Have a Heart” food drive netted more than 10,000 pounds of food in January and February. Barcellona noted that non-perishable food stuffs (canned goods, pre-package and boxed foods, baby food, paper products, etc.) was collected.

Mayor McCormac credited Colonia High School teacher Joyce Brown with proposing the Election Day food drive concept and working with the Township’s “We Feed” Committee and the Board of Elections to make the program a reality. Colonia High School students will coordinate the placement of food drop-off containers at each polling location and will then pick-up the containers after the polls close. Additionally, the students will advertise the program through posters and flyers. The Township will post the information on the Township Web Page, TV-35, and through other communications.

“This is an awesome concept and one that can work to keep our food banks stocked and distributing food to needy families throughout the year,” Mayor McCormac said.

The food items will be distributed to needy Woodbridge Township families and individuals through the following food pantries:

• Heavens Helper’s Pantry, Woodbridge (formerly Congregation Adath Israel), Kathy Hoffman, Coordinator @ 732-742-8942;
• The First Presbyterian Church, Iselin, Gloria Haesler, Coordinator @ 732-283-1188;
• Trinity Episcopal Church, Woodbridge, Val and Hertha Blatz, Coordinators @ 732-634-7422 Ext. 4;
• Metro Park Assembly of God, Iselin, Sandra Burton, Coordinator @ 732-310-8758;
• First Presbyterian Church, Woodbridge, George and Robin Goodrich, Coordinator @ 732-634-1024
• St. James Roman Catholic Church, Woodbridge, Peggy Catalano, Coordinator @ 732-636-4310;
• First Presbyterian Church of Avenel, Carolyn and Jake Stockl, Coordinators @ 732-634-1631;
• First Congregational Church-Women of Faith, Woodbridge, Faith Longstreet, Coordinator @ 732-634-0582;
• St. Cecelia Roman Catholic Church, Iselin @ 732-283-0150, and
• Elijah’s Bread Food Pantry, Woodbridge @ 732-636-7727.

According to a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture report, more than 14 million American families – 11.9 percent of all U.S. households – are at some time during the year uncertain of, or unable to purchase, enough food for their family.

The ongoing effort to keep Woodbridge Township food banks stocked throughout the year continues with food donations being part of various Township-sponsored events such as the Mayor’s Summer Concert Series, the Barron Arts Center Holiday Concert, and other public events. Additionally, non-perishable foods can be dropped off any weekday at the Woodbridge Township Public Health Center, 2 George Frederick Plaza, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Woodbridge Town Hall, 1 Main Street, the Woodbridge Library, 1 George Frederick Plaza, or at the Woodbridge Community Center, 600 Main Street..

Additional information about the Election Day Food Drive or the “We Feed” Committee is available by contacting Peter Barcellona at 732-855-0600 x5034.

John R. Hagerty
Mayor’s Office of Communications
732-602-6039

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