FALL 2024 ISSUE - Flipbook - Page 67
sssssssssssssssss
T
here
are
almost
9
m i l l i o n
people
in
NJ with 1
in 9 people
experiencing
f o o d
insecurity.
Government and
charitable programs are at a
disadvantage
for
bridging the gap with
much of the service
areas relying on
food banks and local
pantries. In 2023, the
Food Bank of South
Jersey
distributed
22 million pounds
of food3 that9s the
equivalent of nearly
18.5 million meals
to children, families,
seniors, and veterans
in South Jersey.
With the assistance
of
community
partners, they serve
over 170,000 a month
in some of the most
vulnerable counties
in New Jersey. Food
banks and pantries
rely on volunteers
from the community
to sort, deliver and
prepare food and meals with
many sites open for drive up
service to mitigate stigma and
bias by loading pre packaged
groceries directly into the cars
of the clients they serve. In the
oght to eliminate food insecurity,
one of the positive attributes has
been a focus on family by sharing
recipes easily made at home from
the food provided at the local
banks and pantries. Fresh fruit
and vegetables can often bring
new experiences to communities
and cultures unfamiliar with
seasonal delights. In 2023 after
attending a fundraiser for the
Food Bank of South Jersey, we
discussed how they will ofer
cooking classes to clients to
bring recipes to life and engage
family members in healthy and
festive meals. I mentioned that
my mother9s recipes renected
my culture and utilized the
fresh produce native to New
Jersey such as corn, tomatoes,
strawberries and blueberries
and were among my favorite
memories of my childhood. This
conversation was the inspiration
for my International Impact
Award
winning
children9s
coloring cookbook entitled,