Community Food Drive In Edison

EDISON, NJ — The South Edison Community Association (SECA) will host a food drive on Sep. 26, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. outside Edison High School, Boulevard of the Eagles, off Old Post Road

This drive is being organized for the Hands of Hope food pantry, and will support 30 community groups, businesses, schools, churches and unions. In May the SECA held its first food drive, where it collected 20 truckloads of non-perishable food and cash donations for the food pantry at St. James Episcopal Church.

The SECA also sent several truckloads of food to the Middlesex County Food Bank (McFoods) that aids 130 other countywide food pantries, churches and non-profits.

The food pantry in Edison needs canned vegetables, fruits and soups, canned tuna and hams, boxes of pasta, rice and macaroni and cheese, boxes of potato flakes and baking mixes, breakfast cereals and oatmeal, bottled vegetable juice and fruit juices, bottled tomato sauce and other bottled or canned gravy.

The coronavirus has resulted in many families facing food insecurity in the community. In a statement, Middlesex County Freeholder Charles Tomaro, a long-time Hands of Hope volunteer, said the food pantry in Edison provides bags groceries to over 4,000 Edison-area households, including senior, veterans and people with disabilities.

SECA is also accepting volunteers for the food drive. To volunteer, call (732) 261-7172 or email SouthEdisonCommunityAssoc@gmail.com.

The association is also accepting money in lieu of food donations. Those interested can make contributions by check or money order to Hands of Hope, NJ; P.O. Box 1057, Edison, NJ 08818.

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.