WOODBRIDGE “HAVE-A-HEART” FOOD DRIVE ANNOUNCES $30,000 in DONATIONS & 25,000 Lbs. of FOOD
Mayor McCormac Cites Support of Township Corporations, Businesses, Restaurant & Hospitality Industry, School Students & Residents in
Successful Effort to Re-Supply Food Pantries
WOODBRIDGE – Mayor John E. McCormac today announced that the 2018 Woodbridge Township ‘Have-A-Heart’ food drive collected $30,000.00 in cash donations and more than 25,000 pounds of non-perishable food to support the efforts of local food pantries in their work to aid needy families throughout Woodbridge Township. More than 100 Township corporations, businesses, retail outlets, school students, charitable organizations and residents contributed to the Annual ‘Have-A-Heart’ food drive.
“The ‘Have-A-Hear’t food drive is one of the most important programs that we as a community participate in each January and February. I am proud to be part of the effort to extend the generosity of the holiday season and to replenish and restock Township food banks,” Mayor McCormac said. “Hunger knows no season and no boundary. It’s crucial that we work every day – not just during the holiday season – to collect food as we help provide the necessities of life to our neighbors and families who might otherwise go hungry.”
According to Mayor McCormac, the annual ‘Have-A-Heart’ food drive, so named because it runs through Valentine’s Day, is launched each January by the Woodbridge Department of Health & Human Services and the We Feed Woodbridge Food Bank Foundation. The ‘Have-A-Heart’ food drive, established in 1995, works with area food pantries, churches, parishes, schools and community and senior organizations to replenish and restock food pantries. This year, the ‘Have-A-Heart’ food drive issued a “2/14” challenge to Township corporate offices, businesses, retail outlets, food stores, restaurants and hospitality industry, charitable organizations and residents to donate 214 pounds of food or contribute $214 to assist food pantries continue their work in providing food and meals to less fortunate residents and the homeless.
Peter Barcellona, Chairman of We Feed Woodbridge reported that the 3rd Grade students from Robert Mascenik School #26 in Iselin collected more than 700 pounds of non-perishable food (canned goods, pre-package and boxed foods, baby food, paper products, etc.). The student food drive program was coordinated by School #26 Principal Judith Martino and 3rd Grade teachers Melissa Finnerty, Leslie Cardello, and Dolores Boyd. Students from the St. John Vianney School in Colonia and Avenel Middle School also collected over 2,000 pounds of non-perishable foods for distribution by We Feed Woodbridge.
More than 100 Township corporations, businesses, retail outlets, school students, charitable organizations and residents contributed to the 2018 ‘Have-A-Heart’ food drive. Significant contributors include:
Colonia Business Community (CBC) $6,000.00 and 700 Lbs.
Sansone Foundation $5,000.00
Wegmans of Woodbridge 1,000 Lbs.
Woodbridge ShopRite 1,000 Lbs.
RSI Bank $2,500.00
Northfield Bank $2,140.00
Bishop George Ahr High School 1,200 Lbs.
Woodbridge Community Center 1,000 Lbs.
St. Anthony of Padua Church 1,000 Lbs.
The food items will be distributed to needy Woodbridge Township families and individuals through the following food pantries:
Heavens Helper’s Pantry, 343 Pearl Street, Woodbridge
First Presbyterian Church, 1295 Oak Tree Road, Iselin
Trinity Episcopal Church, Trinity Lane, Woodbridge
Metro Park Assembly of God, 48 Berkeley Blvd., Iselin
First Presbyterian Church, 600 Rahway Avenue, Woodbridge
St. James Roman Catholic Church, 174 Grove Street, Woodbridge
First Presbyterian Church of Avenel, 621 E. Woodbridge Avenue, Avenel
First Congregational Church, Barron Avenue, Woodbridge
St. Cecelia Roman Catholic Church, 45 Wilus Way, Iselin
Fellowship Bible Church Food Pantry, 121 East Prospect Ave., Woodbridge
First Baptist Church of Woodbridge, 130 Sewaren Avenue, Sewaren
Deacons’ Table Soup Kitchen, Good Shepherd Parish, 625 Florida Grove Road, Hopelawn
Trinity Episcopal Church Soup Kitchen, Trinity Lane, Woodbridge
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 13 Woodbridge Township food banks and soup kitchens serve approximately 700 needy families each month.
The year-round effort to keep Woodbridge Township food banks stocked continues with food donations being part of every election and Township-sponsored events to include: The Mayor’s Summer Concert series, Music on Main Street & Woodbridge Wednesday concerts, the Barron Arts Center summer programs and concerts and other Township-sponsored public events. Non-perishable foods can be dropped off any weekday at the Woodbridge Township Public Health Center, 2 George Frederick Plaza, between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM. Additional food drop-off locations are at Woodbridge Town Hall, 1 Main Street, the Woodbridge Library, 1 George Frederick Plaza, or the Woodbridge Community Center, 600 Main Street.
