Nov 22, 2019
Beginning Monday, December 2 and continuing through Friday,
December 13, Atlantic County residents are urged to place non-perishable food
items at the curb on their recycling collection day as part of the 29th annual Holiday Food Drive. Atlantic County
Utilities Authority (ACUA) recycling crews will collect the food in conjunction
with regularly scheduled recycling pick-ups.
Sponsored by
ACUA, the Holiday Food Drive gives residents an easy and convenient way to
provide for South Jersey neighbors in need while helping the environment. All
food collected through the Holiday Food Drive will be distributed through the
Community FoodBank of New Jersey’s Egg Harbor Township location, which provides
food to about 300 partner agencies for distribution to struggling families
throughout Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties. These charities include
emergency food pantries, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and other charitable
feeding programs.
“We’re
thankful for our longstanding partnership with the ACUA and for the generosity
of Atlantic County residents,” said Colette Kraus, Food Sourcing Manager at the
Community FoodBank of New Jersey. “ACUA and its customers have fought holiday
hunger with this annual food drive for over 25 years, a testament to their
commitment to the FoodBank’s mission, which could not be accomplished without
initiatives like this one.”
The Community FoodBank of New Jersey is looking for donations
of food items, especially canned tuna and meats, hearty soups, meals in a can
and peanut butter. Please do not include perishable or frozen items or food in
glass jars.
“Every community is impacted; the need for food donations is
pervasive and many of our friends and neighbors are struggling,” said ACUA
President Rick Dovey. “ACUA’s food drive provides an easy way for people to
donate when they put their recycling out. There are more than 66,000 food
insecure individuals in Atlantic, Cape May, and Cumberland Counties, many of
whom turn to the FoodBank for help putting meals on the table, and we truly
need as many residents as possible to donate to this year’s effort,” Dovey
added.
Last year, residents donated 18,625 pounds of non-perishable
food items. “Our goal is to exceed last year’s total and we are always
encouraged by the generosity of Atlantic County residents,” said Dovey.
To participate, just fill any bag or box with your donation and
leave at the curb on your recycling day between December 2 and December 13.
Atlantic County residents not serviced through the ACUA
curbside recycling program can participate by bringing their donations to the
ACUA at 6700 Delilah Rd. or to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey at 6735
Horse Pike, Egg Harbor Township.
To
learn more about how you can help, contact the Community FoodBank of New
Jersey’s Egg Harbor Township location at (609) 383-8843 or visit cfbnj.org. For
more information, call (609) 272-6950 or visit www.acua.com/fooddrive.