Free Food Distribution Continues In Burlington County

BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ — Burlington County will hold a free food distribution event as part of its response to the coronavirus pandemic this weekend, county officials announced on Tuesday.

Burlington County has partnered with the Food Bank of South Jersey and Farmers Against Hunger to distribute thousands of boxes and bags of food to county residents in need, according to officials.

Its 11th food distribution event will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday in the parking lot of the County Emergency Services Training Center in Westampton, off Woodlane Road next to the Burlington County Institute of Technology’s Westampton campus. Food will be distributed to those in need on a first-come, first-served basis.

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“No child or adult should have to go to bed hungry because of the pandemic or recession,” Burlington County Board Director Felicia Hopson said. “We’ve seen first-hand the need that exists, and we remain committed to working with our partners to try to provide help to every family who needs it.”

The county said it has already handed out more than 3,000 boxes and bags of food since the outbreak of the pandemic in March. It has spent more than $100,000 on its food assistance program during that time.

Each box of food contains nonperishable food items, such as pasta, tuna, rice, oats, powdered milk and canned fruits and vegetables. In addition, Farmers Against Hunger has also provided hundreds of bags of fresh Jersey produce, including tomatoes, zucchini, potatoes, carrots, and other fresh vegetables and dairy.

In Burlington County, about 33,330 people were considered food insecure before the pandemic, according to Feeding America's "Map the Meal Gap" interactive study.

Job loss and other economic crises associated with the coronavirus could push the rate of food insecurity in Burlington County from 7.5 percent to 12.3 percent by the end of the year. Read more here: Coronavirus Causes Hunger: Food Banks In Burlington County

“Hunger was an issue before the pandemic, but the outbreak has made the problem more pronounced and widespread,” Hopson said. “We refuse to ignore the problem or pretend it doesn’t exist. While the food we’re providing residents will not solve the problem altogether, we’ve heard from a number of families who say the extra help can make a world of difference, so we intend on continuing to provide the help.”

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 54 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.

See related: NJ Coronavirus, Reopen Updates: Here's What You Need To Know