Food Drive wraps up at School 26

Members of the Colonia Business Community report to Robert Mascenik School #26 in Iselin to drop-off $11,261.00 to the “Have-A-Heart” food drive campaign.  The 3^rd Grade students at School #26 contributed 200 pounds of non-perishable foods to the “Have-A-Heart” food drive.

3^RD GRADE CLASS AT ROBERT MASCENIK SCHOOL #26 CONTRIBUTING 200 LBS OF FOOD

 

2013 Food Drive Totals $35,000 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 2013 Woodbridge Township “Have-A-Heart” food drive collected more than 25,700 pounds of non-perishable food and over $35,690.00 in cash donations 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 2013 “Have-A-Heart” food drive. 

 

“The ‘Have-A-Heart’ 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 work to 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 Committee.  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 more than 200 pounds of non-perishable food (canned goods, pre-package and boxed foods, baby food, paper products, etc.) was collected and sorted for donation by the Third Grade students from Robert Mascenik School #26 in Iselin.  The student food drive program was coordinated by School #26 teachers Kristie Manente and Lora Bucior. 

 

Dr. Robert Zega, Superintendent, Woodbridge Township School District, noted that School 26 teachers and students turn food drive logistics into classroom curriculum exercises with students creating posters, flyers, graphs, and other learning aids that apply lesson plans and problem-solving methods to the project.  Additionally, students coordinate the collection, sorting, packaging and delivering of food products to the food pantries.

 

Significant contributors to the 2013 “Have-A-Heart” food drive include:

·         Colonia Business Community and Colonia Corner newspaper ~ $12,000.00

·         Wegmans of Woodbridge ~ 1,000 lbs. and $214.00

·         Woodbridge ShopRite ~ 3,400 pounds

·         Northfield Bank ~ $2,500.00

·         BCB Community Bank ~ $1,000.00

·         Woodbridge YMCA ~ 2,100 lbs.

·         Goya Food Service ~ 1,000 lbs.

·         FoodTown of Colonia ~ 300 lbs.

·         Indian Food Corp. ~ ~$1,000.00

·         Mr. Raman Shah, C/O IASONJ ~ 2,500 lbs.

·         Central Jersey Council of the Boy Scouts ~ 800 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, 20 Middlesex Avenue, 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

·         First Congregational Church-Women of Faith, Barron Avenue, Woodbridge

·         St. Cecelia Roman Catholic Church, 45 Wilus Way, Iselin

·         Elijah’s Bread Food Pantry, Ridgedale and E. Prospect Avenues, 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 ten Woodbridge Township food banks serve approximately 500 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 event such as the Woodbridge Wednesday concerts on Main Street, the Mayor’s Summer Concert Series, 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 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.  Additional food drop-off locations are at Woodbridge Town Hall, 1 Main Street, the Woodbridge Library, 1 George Frederick Plaza, or at the Woodbridge Community Center, 600 Main Street.