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February 20, 2004

The 2004 Have a Heart Food Drive has brought in 10,100 pounds of food to be distributed to the needy of Woodbridge Township, Mayor Frank G. Pelzman and Health Department Director Patrick O. Hanson have announced. This exceeds last year's total of 7,500 pounds of food collected by the drive. The Have a Heart Food Drive, so named because it runs through Valentine's Day, is organized 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 supply. The food is 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 Church and Congregation Adath Israel of Woodbridge. "We have a superb network of volunteers committed to aiding their community in time of need," noted Hanson. Mayor Pelzman appeared at a special ceremony last week honoring school students who had participated in the drive. "I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for being so generous," said the Mayor. "It is very important to keep the food pantries well-stocked after the Holidays." Many township schools and businesses contributed to this year's Have a Heart campaign. Fourth-grade teacher Kristie Manente of Robert Mascenik School 26 said it was a task her students had no trouble supporting 100%. "I am very proud of them," said Ms. Manente. "They did the organizing, collecting and sorting." In addition, the teachers turned the food drive logistics into classroom curriculum exercises. Posters, flyers, graphs and other learning aids were created that helped apply lesson plans and problem-solving methods to the project. The Township's next food drive begins in July with the Mayor's Summer Concert Series.