Ewing Township Encourages Residents to Help Fight Hunger During Summer Food Drive

“Give the Good Stuff” Is a Focus

Mayor Bert Steinmann and Township Council will be collecting canned goods and dry goods through August 30^th with all items to benefit the Ewing Township Food Pantry at the Hollowbrook Community Center run by The Victorious Church.   The Food Pantry serves as a supplemental program that helps Ewing families on a weekly basis. 

“The Pantry is open every Wednesday, but the last Wednesday of the month seems to be time of heaviest need,” says Pastor Terry Collins.  “For the summer months of June, July and August, we will not be open the first Wednesdays.”  The Pantry receives State and Federal funds, which allows them to service outside of the Ewing area.  However, Ewing donations go to Ewing residents only.

You may donate any non-perishable donations such as canned fruit, fish, vegetables, soup, stew, chili, cooking oils, instant mashed potatoes, rice, pasta, cereal, oatmeal, nuts, peanut butter, powdered milk, spices and 100% juices.  Pastor Collins suggests avoiding sugary cereals, salty noodle mixes, and fruit-flavored beverages that might be easy to donate, but difficult for households to include in nutritious meals.

Donation boxes are located in the upper and lower lobbies of the Ewing Township Municipal Building at 2 Jake Garzio Drive, and donations will be accepted during all open building hours.  You may instead opt to drop off directly at the pantry at the Hollowbrook Community Center, 320 Hollowbrook Drive during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Room 203.

There is also a need for perishable items such as chicken, fish, beef and any other kind of protein.  These items must be dropped off directly at the Food Pantry itself during the above noted hours. 

Boost the value of your donations

“It’s important to remember that donated food is most helpful if it is both safe and high quality,” says Mayor Steinmann.  “Please be sure to check the dates on packages of foods that you donate.  Look for the following hints:  Better if used by,… Do not use after…  Look for foods that have a stable shelf life, are full of nutrients and are easy to prepare.”    

Besides looking for a date, be sure to check the integrity of the package. To ensure that the food has not been contaminated, donate only foods from unopened packages.  Avoid foods with packaging that shows signs of leakage or damage.  Council President Kevin Baxter urges consumers not to donate canned items that have broken seams or large dents. 

According to the last census in 2010 for Ewing Township, about 4.7% of families and 10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.3% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.  The poverty line is $28.600 for a family of four.  The Food Pantry serves roughly 50 - 60 families. 

“Food pantry guests are extremely grateful for the help that they receive through the pantries. Pantry guests welcome your donations of safe, high quality foods so that they can feed themselves and their households healthy, nutritious meals,” says Mayor Steinmann. 

You may want to consider donating cash to The Food Pantry. “Pantries can often get more for their dollars, address shortages and needs and focus on high quality products with some extra financial assistance,” says Baxter. “Cash donations help food pantries offer the widest possible array of products to the individuals that they serve.   They will go toward the purchase of meat proteins such as chicken, fish, beef, etc….  Protein is the Number 1 need for the food pantry, but all donations provide a benefit.”

In addition to donations, volunteers are needed to help at the pantry.  Please contact the Hollowbrook Community Center and ask for Pastor Collins of the Victorious Church at 609-434-0011. 

Contacts:

Council President, Kevin Baxter Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.