Community FoodBank of New Jersey Organizes Dine Out Fundraiser

HILLSIDE, NJ—April 30, 2018

Inspired by the success of last year’s Southern Branch fundraiser, the Community FoodBank of New Jersey will kick off its two-week-long “Feed a Family” campaign in partnership with more than 100 local restaurants. The dine out program will run from Friday, May 4 through Sunday, May 20.

Forty participating locations have signed on to encourage patrons to add $5 or more to their bill as a donation to support food insecure families, and more than 60 restaurants will display donation boxes at their counters. The FoodBank hopes to raise $50,000 through this event, which equates to 150,000 meals.

“A donation of $5 at any participating location will allow the FoodBank to provide 15 meals for families in need throughout New Jersey,” said Carlos Rodriguez, President & CEO of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. “That’s enough to feed a family of four for an entire day and still have a few meals left over. We’re grateful to the local restaurants that have made this fundraiser possible.”

Nearly 1 million New Jersey residents don’t know where their next meal is coming from. Many are families who struggle to make ends meet. 70% of the households the FoodBank serves must choose between housing and food, and 49% of households have at least one member with a paying job.

“Every community in New Jersey has people in need,” Rodriguez added. “Families make difficult decisions every day to provide for their children, often choosing between food and other basic necessities or skipping meals to make sure that their kids have enough to eat. Our ‘Feed a Family’ fundraiser gives patrons an opportunity to help alleviate this burden for their struggling neighbors as they enjoy a meal with their own families.”

Participating restaurants include: Chatham: Aida’s Cozy Kitchen, Café Villa, Chatham Sandwich Shop, Garden Rice, Marie’s Italian Specialties, Mitsuba Japanese Cuisine, Restaurant Serenade, Taste of Asia, Yo Lotta Luv, Cranford: A Toute Heure, Bar Americana, Downtown Family Restaurant, Garlic Rose, Riverside Inn, Elizabeth: Al Santillo’s Brick Oven Pizza, Cabbellini, Europa Bar & Restaurant, Michelino’s, Rancho Mateo, Taberna Del Rei, Torna Sorrento, Urban Griddle, Kenilworth: Big Apple Pizza, Boulevard 572, Capri Pizza, Greco Roma Pizza, Kenilworth Diner, Kenilworth Liquors, LeRendez Vous Bistro, Massimo Deli, Riberto’s Bistro & Restaurant, Three Guys from Italy, Madison: CENTRAL+MAIN American Eatery, Jungle Juice, Maplewood: Bill & Harry’s, Coda Kitchen & Bar, Maple Leaf Diner, Maplewood Deli & Subs, Nargiz Deli & Café, St. James Café, Village Trattoria, Village Ice Cream Parlour, Woulibam Restaurant, Mendham: Piattino’s, Simple Coffee, The Black Horse Pub, Millburn: DaNico Restaurant, Millburn Diner, Oscar’s Deli & Restaurant, Pita on Essex, Rockin’ Joe, The Hills Tavern, Salad House, Montclair: The Office Tavern & Grille, Morristown: GK's Red Dog Tavern, Guerriero’s Ristorante, Horse Shoe Tavern, La Campagna Restaurant, George & Martha’s, Rod's Steakhouse, Salad House, south+pine american eatery South Street Creamery, Stirling Tavern, The Office Tavern & Grille, Mountainside: Stage House Tavern, North Bergen: Coach House, Parsippany: Gourmet Café, Ridgewood: The Office Tavern & Grille, Roselle Park: Fresca Pizza & Deli, Sunrise Diner, Secaucus: Trillos 15X Restaurant, Somerville: Salad House, Summit: Antonio's Deli, Doria Pizzeria, Due 360, LaPastaria, Summit Diner, Summit Greek Grill, Summit Thai Cuisine, Peppercorn, Piattino’s, The Office Tavern & Grille, Union: Café 401 & Grill, Café Z, Ciao Pizza, Cioffi's Restaurant, Cozy Corner Deli , Garden Restaurant, Glendale Restaurant, Gusta Rosso Trattoria, Johnny Napkins, LaPiccola , Mario's Tutte Bene, Master Pizza, Patio Café & Grill, Suspenders Restaurant & Pub, Tiff's Burger & Alehouse, VanGogh's Ear Café, Union City: 4 Star Diner, Upper Montclair: Marcel Bakery & Kitchen, Westfield: Casa di Pizza, Inspiration Roll, Limani Seafood Grill, Outta Hand Pizza, Salad House, Vicki's Diner

The Community FoodBank of New Jersey, a member of Feeding America®, provides people across the state with food, help and hope. The FoodBank distributed more than 50 million pounds of food last year to its more than 1,000 community partners including pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, mobile pantries, and child and senior feeding programs. More than 4.7 million times a year, someone in need is fed by the FoodBank’s network of partners. For our neighbors, especially families, and for the volunteers and donors who support them, the Community FoodBank of New Jersey is the powerful change agent that fills the emptiness caused by hunger with the basic human essentials people need to survive.