Food pantry workers across Bergen County packed their vehicles to the brim Monday morning at Overpeck County Park, where more than 90,000 pounds of fresh produce were distributed to help families facing food insecurity this holiday season.
“We have 30 boxes in the car and that will get us started,” said Brian Burke, a deacon at St. John’s Parish in Leonia. “We need to get as much as we can to feed as many people as we can.”
The large-scale distribution is a partnership between the Community FoodBank of New Jersey and the Bergen County Office of Food Security. It comes just over a week after the resumption of SNAP benefit payments — a critical lifeline that was temporarily frozen earlier this month during the federal government shutdown.
“850,000 of our New Jersey neighbors participate in SNAP,” said Jeannie Fournier, chief impact officer for the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. “When benefits were delayed, they didn’t have access to a monthly benefit they’re eligible for. We like to say you can’t eat retroactively, the inability to purchase groceries was incredibly impactful.”
Pantries across the state saw an increase in need during the disruption. Bergen County Commissioner Tracy Zur said Monday’s event is about ensuring families have what they need, especially with Thanksgiving days away.
“Half of the people who receive SNAP benefits are children. Seniors are about a third. 20% are disabled. These are our veterans and folks most in need,” Zur said. “These boxes aren’t just going to give them a happy Thanksgiving but vital nutrition like fresh fruits and vegetables that will help people have healthy food on their plate.”
More than 50 volunteers helped load 4,500 boxes of staples like potatoes, onions, apples, oranges, and cabbage, a boost for pantries working urgently to restock shelves.
“We received 95 boxes for our pantry and this is one vehicle out of five we brought,” said Joe Velardi, food pantry coordinator at St. Ann’s Church in Fair Lawn. “Every distribution, the number is going up. We’re seeing new people come.”
With inflation continuing to strain families, Assemblywoman Shama Haider (D-Bergen) says the demand is only growing.
“Any pantry will tell you how exponentially the lines have increased,” Haider said. “People don’t come unless it’s the last straw. Nobody wants to stand in a pantry line. They have to feed their families and have no choice.”
Even with benefits restored, food insecurity remains a daily reality for hundreds of thousands of New Jersey households. Bergen County Executive James Tedesco said that’s why the county is committed to making sure support reaches every community.
“We have 70 municipalities here in Bergen County and every one of them has food insecurity issues,” Tedesco said. “It’s our job as county government to help and that’s what we are doing here today.”
