Middlesex County to host food distribution event for food insecure residents

Saturday, June 27 from 9:30 am to 1 pm (while supplies last)

WHAT:            To continue its commitment to providing food to those in need, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, MCFOODS (Middlesex County Food Organization and Outreach Distribution Services), in conjunction with the Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ) and with contributions from Novo Nordisk, are hosting the County’s first drive-up food distribution event.

                        The event, which will follow CDC and State guidelines for social distancing, will allow residents to drive-up through the distribution line to collect a box of fresh and packaged food, all while remaining contact-free. Those receiving food will be required to show proof of New Jersey residency (including a driver’s license or state issued ID and utility bill) and are asked to clean the trunk of the car before arriving. Food will be distributed to the first 1,500 cars on a first-come, first-served basis, one allocation per car.

WHEN:            Saturday, June 27 from 9:30 to 1 pm (while supplies last)

WHERE:           Novo Nordisk

                        800 Scudders Mill Road

                        Plainsboro, NJ 08536

WHY:               According to Jennifer Apostol, Director of MCFOODS, compared to 2019, the distribution center has seen an increase in the number of residents in need of food. MCFOODS saw a 79 percent increase in the amount of food distributed in March, and a 100 percent increase in April. Additionally, MCFOODS reported a 39 percent increase in the number of pantries accessing the distribution center compared to this time last year. In addition to this drive-up distribution event, residents can visit a local food pantry to collect food. Those in need can visit: http://www.middlesexcountynj.gov/Government/Departments/mcia/Pages/Mcfoods/mcfoods.asp for a list of those pantries providing food during this time.

As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the Community FoodBank of New Jersey has seen an increase in need of about 50%, on average, across its network of more than 1,000 partner agencies in its 16-county service area. In response, CFBNJ has provided enough food for over 19 million nutritious meals from March through May, a 35% increase year-over-year, including nearly 70,000 emergency meal kits. April and May were record-breaking months for CFBNJ. Each saw the distribution of enough food for nearly 7 million meals, the most ever provided in a single month in CFBNJ’s 45-year history. Those in need of food assistance can visit cfbnj.org/findfood to locate a CFBNJ partner agency near them.

WHO:              Partnering with MCFOODS on this event and providing the food for our residents is the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, the state’s largest anti-hunger, anti-poverty organization. CFBNJ has been coordinating large-scale, contactless food distributions at various locations throughout its 16-county service area. Thanks to the CFBNJ’s leadership and the generous contributions of Novo Nordisk, including use of its campus, onsite volunteer support donations, and the employees who have volunteered to assist with the distribution, MCFOODS, through this distribution event, can provide food to those most in need during this pandemic.

About MCFOODS

Beginning in the closet of a park police building in Roosevelt Park in Edison in 1994, MCFOODS has since expanded into a 5,000 square foot warehouse in East Brunswick. MCFOODS provides nonperishable foods and necessities to our network of over 120 partner organizations throughout the 25 towns in Middlesex County to ensure that all residents always have access to nutritionally adequate food and necessities. In the early years, MCFOODS received and distributed 92,000 pounds of nonperishable foods and necessities to about 30 partner agencies. In 2019, MCFOODS received and distributed over 2.2 million pounds of food including fresh produce, dairy, and meat products to over 130 partners. On June 6, MCFOODS collected almost 13,000 pounds of food through a contactless, socially distance drive-up food drive.

About the Community Food Bank of New Jersey

The Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ), a member of Feeding America®, has been delivering food, help and hope across the state for 45 years. Last year, CFBNJ provided nutritious food for over 50 million meals through its network of more than 1,000 community partners including pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, mobile pantries, and child and senior feeding programs throughout the New Jersey counties it serves (Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset and Union). For our hungry neighbors, the Community FoodBank of New Jersey is the powerful agent of change that fills the emptiness caused by hunger and provides resources that are essential to earning a sustainable living.

About Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company that’s been making innovative medicines to help people with diabetes lead longer, healthier lives for 95 years. This heritage has given us experience and capabilities that also enable us to help people defeat other serious diseases including obesity, hemophilia and growth disorders. We remain steadfast in our conviction that the formula for lasting success is to stay focused, think long-term and do business in a financially, socially and environmentally responsible way. With U.S. headquarters in New Jersey and production and research facilities in six states, Novo Nordisk employs nearly 6,000 people throughout the country. For more information, visit novonordisk.us, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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