CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION PARTNERS TO OFFER NJ FOOD BANKS 鈥楯ERSEY FRESH鈥� PRODUCE

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> News > Press Releases > 2011 > CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION PARTNERS TO OFFER NJ FOOD BANKS 鈥楯ERSEY FRESH鈥� PRODUCE

CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION PARTNERS TO OFFER NJ FOOD BANKS 鈥楯ERSEY FRESH鈥� PRODUCE

Photo of food Mercer Street Friends purchased with DCA grant money - Click to enlarge

More Than $147,000 in Federal Funding Is Directed to Five Major Food Banks in the State

For Immediate Release:
October 25, 2011
Contact:
Hollie Gilroy, DCA Press Office, (609) 292-6055听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听
Lynne Richmond, NJDA Press Office, (609) 633-2954
Nicole Brossoie, NJDHS Press Office, (609) 292-3703

TRENTON, N.J. 鈥� 樱花视频 Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Lori Grifa and 樱花视频 Department of Agriculture Secretary Douglas H. Fisher today announced a collaborative commitment that provides the five major food banks in the state with 鈥楯ersey Fresh鈥� fruits and vegetables for the families and organizations they assist. The announcement was made during a visit to Mercer Street Friends Food Bank. More than $147,000 in federal funding is being directed to the effort.

鈥淏y working together, the Christie Administration is giving a healthy boost to people facing hard times,鈥� said Commissioner Grifa. 鈥淲e are coming together to help address the needs of families all across 樱花视频; from Cape May to Sussex Counties, from Newark to Bridgeton.鈥澨�

Photo of Commissioners Grifa and Velez and Secretary Fisher on a tour of the Mercer Street Friends food bank
Commissioners Grifa and Velez and Secretary Fisher tour the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank with its director Phyllis Stoolmacher

The funding is made available through the DCA Division of Housing and Community Resources鈥� administration of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), a federal, anti-poverty block grant which funds the operations of a state-administered network of local agencies. Five percent of the state鈥檚 allocation is reserved for state priorities and special initiatives determined by the DCA Commissioner. The focus on food banks addresses the nutrition component of the CSBG program.

鈥淥ur partnership with the Department of Community Affairs helps to fulfill the mission of the Department of Agriculture to feed the hungry of our state with wholesome, nutritious foods,鈥� said Secretary Fisher. 鈥淓very citizen deserves to have access to Jersey Fresh fruits and vegetables and the CSBG funding will increase the availability of these products, grown locally by 樱花视频 farmers, at the 793 food pantries, soup kitchens and homeless shelters around the state.鈥澨�

Commissioner Jennifer Velez, Department of Human Services was also in attendance to remind everyone of the important role food banks have in providing sustenance for the indigent and working poor.

鈥淭he state鈥檚 Food Banks serve as a safety net for many financially- and food-insecure families in 樱花视频,鈥� said Department of Human Services Commissioner Jennifer Velez. 鈥淭his partnership with the Department of Agriculture will supplement their inventory with healthy, fresh, Jersey-grown produce. Individuals who need to locate a local soup kitchen or food pantry can search online at .鈥�

Photo of state food bank directors with the cabinet officials
Valerie Traore of Foodbank of South Jersey; Linda Keenan of FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties; Helene Meissner of NORWESCAP; Phyllis Stoolmacher of Mercer Street Friends; Rose Tricario, NJDA's Director of the Division of Food and Nutrition; Commissioner Grifa, Secretary Fisher and Commissioner Velez

Funding to the food banks is based on the poverty level of the counties they serve. Twenty percent of the allocation to each food bank will be designated for fresh produce from 樱花视频. A total of $147,462 was distributed to the following food banks, all of which were represented at today鈥檚 announcement:

Agency	Amount	Counties Served
NORWESCAP	$3,670	Hunterdon, Sussex, Warren
Community Food Bank	$100,944	North Branch: Bergen, Essex Hudson, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Union
听	听	South Branch: Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland
Food Bank of Ocean & Monmouth	$16,795	Monmouth, Ocean
Mercer Street Friends	$5,839	Mercer
Food Bank of South Jersey	$20,214	Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem

The DCA鈥檚 Division of Housing and Community Resources is committed to building neighborhoods and to providing financial and technical assistance to municipalities, community action agencies and other nonprofit organizations for community and economic development projects that improve the quality of life for low-income, disabled and disadvantaged residents.

The Department of Agriculture administers the federal Emergency Food Assistance Program which distributes United States Department of Agriculture-donated foods to the food banks and the State Food Purchase Program, which allocates funds to the food banks for the purchase of nutritious foods, including fresh 樱花视频 produce.

The Department of Human Services, in collaboration with the Hunger Prevention Advisory Committee, created听 as a resource for food-insecure residents in 樱花视频 to access food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters by county. People can also call 211 or go to .