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The move will give “a healthy boost to people facing hard times,” state Community Affairs Commissioner Lori Grifa said.
Community Food Bank, which serves Bergen, Essex Hudson, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, and Union counties gets about $110,000 of that money, although it wasn’t clear how much will go to each of the eight recipient counties. Funding is based on each county’s poverty level.
State officials tapped a federal anti-poverty block grant that funds the operations of a state-administered network of local agencies. Five percent of the state’s allocation is reserved for state priorities and special initiatives determined by the DCA Commissioner.
“Our 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,” said Department of Agriculture Secretary Douglas H. Fisher.
“Every 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 New Jersey farmers, at the 793 food pantries, soup kitchens and homeless shelters around the state.”
“The state’s Food Banks serve as a safety net for many financially- and food-insecure families in New Jersey,” said Department of Human Services Commissioner Jennifer Velez.
The Department of Human Services, in collaboration with the Hunger Prevention Advisory Committee, created www.endhunger.org as a resource for food-insecure residents in New Jersey to access food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters by county. People can also call 211 or go to www.nj211.org.
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