Nov 22, 2021
Beginning Monday, December 6 and continuing through Friday, December 17, Atlantic County residents are urged to place non-perishable food items at the curb on their recycling collection day as part of the 31st annual Holiday Food Drive. Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA) recycling crews will collect the food when picking up regularly scheduled recycling stops.
ACUA’s Holiday Food Drive gives residents an easy and convenient way to help 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 Egg Harbor Township which provides the donated food to more than 250 partner agencies for distribution to those less fortunate throughout Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties. These charities include emergency food pantries, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and other charitable feeding programs.
"The Community FoodBank of New Jersey-Egg Harbor Township is grateful for our continued partnership with the ACUA as this year's food drive comes at a critical time. The food collected during this annual drive reflects the generosity of our community and provides essential nutrition to our neighbors in need," noted Denise Hladun, Director of External Affairs for the Community FoodBank of New Jersey.
The Community FoodBank 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.
“There are over 200,000 people in the Community FoodBank of New Jersey Egg Harbor Township’s service area who rely on support from local food pantries. Our region continues to struggle and many of our neighbors are go without some of the most basic things. We are always encouraged by the generosity of Atlantic County residents, and we hope to get as many people as possible to donate to this year’s effort,” said ACUA President Rick Dovey. “ACUA’s food drive provides an easy way for people to donate when they put their recycling out.,” Dovey added.
Last year, residents donated 37,120 pounds of non-perishable food. “Our goal is to exceed last year’s total,” said Dovey.
To participate, just fill any bag or box with your donation and leave at the curb on your recycling day between December 6 and December 17.
Atlantic County residents not serviced through the ACUA curbside recycling program can bring donations to the ACUA at 6700 Delilah Rd., or to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey’s Southern Branch located in Egg Harbor Township at 6735 Horse Pike.
To learn more about how you can help contact the Community FoodBank of New Jersey’s Southern Branch at (609) 383-8843 or visit www.cfbnj.org. For more information, call (609) 272-6950 or visit www.acua.com/fooddrive.