Bergen County Wants To Deliver 68,000 Pounds Of Food To Pantries

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — The Bergen County Food Security Task Force is planning to distribute 68,000 pounds of food to food pantries across the county by the end of January.

Food will come in the form of meal kits — purchased through CARES Act funds — which will serve over 80 pantries across Bergen County, county officials said. Those kits will feature "a variety of proteins, pasta, rice, and canned fruits and vegetables, in addition to shelf-stable milk and toilet paper."

Statistics from the task force show that over 100,000 county residents are food insecure, an increase of 71 percent from pre-pandemic numbers.

County Executive Jim Tedesco said food pantries in the county have served a vital role as the pandemic rages on.

"The County of Bergen remains committed to supporting our local food pantries which have been a lifeline for so many during these unprecedented times," said Tedesco.

Though food pantries have served as an important lifeline, the stock within the pantries has, at times, been strained due to increased demand.

Task Force data shows a "majority" of food pantries in Bergen County with a 50 percent increase in clients since the start of the pandemic. Some pantries have reported an increase as high as 200 percent.

Tracy Zur, Vice Chairwoman to the Board of Commissioners and liaison to the Food Security Task Force, said the new program is important because it will support the pantries, which, in turn, will support the communities they serve.

"Our neighbors need our help, and we need everyone to support our local pantries as the demand continues to increase," she said. "We know that even when we turn the corner on infection rates, the economic impact of this pandemic will be long lasting."

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 50 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.

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