2008 December

The Community FoodBank of New Jersey is struggling. This year, there’s been an increase as high as 30 percent in a need for food. WIth the economy, and people losing jobs, more and more people are turning to the food bank. The problem is, the foodbank is facing a shortage. The winter time is especially rough, because between people needing food, people are struggling to pay for their rising heating costs. The Community FoodBankof New Jersey needs help.

Over 100 New Jersey bloggers are working to bring awareness to this shortage of food. Let’s make a difference, and help support the foodbank. This is a state wide crisis, so that means the foodbanks in your counties need your help.

Did you know New Jersey’s own Bruce Springsteen is also helping in the fight against hunger by lending his voice to the cause. It’s a statewide issue, and we need to come together to help our own.

Imagine the foodbank having to ration food, or turn people away because there’s not enough food to go around. It’s a grim and scary thought.

If you’re able to help the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, please reach out and help. Even if you can’t give money or food, spread the awareness, and reblog about this, reaching out to others who may be able to help. Food is a basic need, and if the shelves go bare at the Community Foodbank of New Jersey, that means there will be people in New Jersey going hungry, and that’s just not okay. The foodbank needs the public to step up and help them keep food on their shelves.

If you can help: www.njfoodbank.org or 908-355-FOOD (3663)

The Community Foodbank of New Jersey (CFBNJ) distributes food and grocery items, helping charities in need. Did you know that since their incorporation in they’ve distributed 300 million pounds of food and groceries. Please help them in their time of need, so they can continue helping those in need. They are a distributor of food, so what that means is they accept large quantity donations. Smaller donations should be brought to your local shelter or food pantry. The Community FoodBank of New Jersey also accepts monetary donations, which they use to buy very large food purhcases. If you have any questions, you can contact them at 908-355-FOOD (3663).

This year in New Jersey, more than 250,000 new people will be be asking for help. With this increased demand, comes more need for increased donations, but unfortunately, since so many families are struggling right now, donations are actually on the decline. That means not enough food to go around. Empty shelves don’t feed people.

“At the Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ), requests for food have gone up 30 percent, but donations are down by 25 percent.” - CFBNJ

The Community Foodbank of New Jersey is the state’s key distributor of food to local banks. What happens when there’s not enough food to go around? People go hungry…right here in New Jersey.

Please reach out and help: www.njfoodbank.org or 908-355-FOOD (3663)

Here’s how you can help:

You can either make a monetary donation. To do that, you can go to their website at www.njfoodbank.org.

If you have food that you can donate, please bring it to your local food shelter…you can even organize a food drive through work, maybe your church or another organization you belong to. (http://www.sefan.org) -for locations

“Check Out Hunger” are coupons you can get at the grocery store. When you’re paying for your groceries, include a donation to the food bank. You can usually find these right near the register.

Here are a few statistics on hunger:

* The number of families coming to churches and food banks trying to get help to feed their families has increased approximately 20 percent. - National Anti-Hunger Organizations, 2008 Blueprint to End Hunger

* One out of every five New Jersey families does not earn enough to afford the basic necessities – housing, food and child care – although 85 percent of these households have at least one family member who is working. – Poverty Research Institute, June 2008

Please take a moment to watch this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXH_aBJKcE4

What can you do to make a difference?

Participating Bloggers for “We Can’t Let This Bank Fail” campaign

1)JerseyBites.com

2) RedBankGreen.com

3) Jersey Girl Cooks.

4) Simply Sable

5) John and Lisa are eating in South Jersey

6) Padma’s Kitchen

7) Chefdruck

8.) Life Lightly Salted