Pantry Boxes Set Up In Gloucester Twp. To Fight Food Insecurity

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — While the coronavirus pandemic has resulted in greater food insecurity in South Jersey, steps have been taken in Gloucester Township to prevent residents from going hungry.

For instance, the Gloucester Township-Pine Hill Rotary Club created three Pantry Boxes to allow residents access to food anonymously, according to township officials.

The first box has been installed in front of Timber Creek Regional High School, 501 Jarvis Road in the Sicklerville section of the township.

A second one has been installed between Pine Hill Middle School and Overbrook High School on Turnersville Road in Pine Hill.

The third box is scheduled to be installed on the Blackwood-Clementon Road side of Highland Regional High School, 450 Erial Road in the Blackwood section of the township.

The boxes were handmade and painted by the Gloucester Township -Pine Hill Rotary Club, and will be maintained by each high school’s Interact Club.

For more information or to make a donation, contact the Gloucester Township-Pine Hill Rotary Club at www.GTRotary.org or by email at gtrotaryclub@gmail.com.

Furthermore, the Gloucester Township Police Department and Gloucester Township Council President Orlando Mercado joined Shoprite of Laurel Hill in their Partners in Caring program to bag groceries for local residents, according to the police department. Images from that event are embedded below.

In all of Camden County, about 52,430 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 Camden County from 10.3 percent to 15.3 percent by the end of the year. Read more here: Coronavirus Increases Hunger: Find A Food Bank In Camden County

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.