County Holding Food Drive for Local Pantries

Burlington County is holding a countywide food drive this month to benefit local food pantries.

Freeholder Mary Ann O’Brien—in collaboration with the United Way of Burlington County, the Burlington County Chamber of Commerce, Burlington County Courts and local nonprofits—has asked county employees to collect food items for local food pantries through June 22.
          
Residents and local businesses are also being asked to continue to donate non-perishable food, money or food gift cards to their local food banks, or to Catholic Charities and Christian Caring Centers. These two agencies are distributing all collected items to pantries across the county.
          
"I am asking county residents and local businesses to join our efforts to help stop hunger in Burlington County,” said O’Brien. “Many of our residents are in need of food in these continuing difficult economic times. We need to make sure all of our neighbors know we are all here to support them. Together, we hope to fill our local pantries with enough food for everyone.”
          
Collection boxes have been placed throughout county buildings.

Food banks are most in need of contributions during the summer months, when donations are traditionally lower.

“The United Way of Burlington County is happy to join forces with the county once again for a food drive,” said Bruce Conway, president of the United Way of Burlington County. “I am sure all of our partners will help us make sure our residents are fed this summer.”
          
The food banks are in desperate need of food items or food store gift cards so they can purchase items that are in high demand.

The food banks need:

• breakfast bars
• canned meals such as mac and cheese, ravioli, beef stew, spaghetti and meatballs, etc.
• canned items such as soup, tuna, vegetables and fruits
• boxed or bagged items such as cereal, noodles, pasta, rice, crackers and stuffing
• jarred items such as jelly, peanut butter, pasta sauce, etc
• bottled items such as juice
• shelf milk
• baby food

To ensure food safety, the food bank cannot use:

• rusty or unlabeled cans
• perishable items
• homemade items
• noncommercial canned or packaged items
• open or used items
• out-of-date or expired items

The following is a list of a few of the larger food pantries in the area.

Catholic Charities, Emergency & Community Services
801 Burlington Ave., Delanco, NJ
856-764-6945 x119 or 111 (donors)

Christian Caring Center
378 Lakehurst Road, Browns Mills, NJ
609-893-0700

Quest Ministries/Tabernacle Baptist Church
150 East Second St., Burlington, NJ
609-386-4785

St. Vincent DePaul — Medford
1 Jones Road, Medford, NJ
609-953-0021

St. Vincent DePaul — Mount Holly
260 High St., Mount Holly, NJ
609-267-9600

Sisterhood Inc.
132-136 E. Broad St., Burlington, NJ
609-747-9333

Provided by the Office of the Burlington County Freeholders