Six of New Jersey’s food banks will receive an immediate infusion of $10 million in federal CARES Act funding, with another $10 million available in the coming months, Gov. Phil Murphy said Thursday. .
Murphy made the announcement at one of the benefiting food banks. Community Food Bank of New Jersey in Hillside, Union County. He said the demand for help from food banks has increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic and that support has dried up.
“Food donations from supermarkets and other places are helping many stores to keep up with customer demand and a desire to serve those in need across our community. It did not, so it dropped sharply.
According to the governor, more than 1 million families in the state have been forced to turn to their food pantries for the first time due to COVID-related job losses.
Other foodbanks receiving a portion of the funding include The Foodbank of South Jersey in Pensauken, Fulfill in Monmouth and Ocean Counties, Mercer Street Friends in Ewing, NORWESCAP in Warren County, and Southern Regional Food Distribution Center in Vineland. included.
Murphy said the funds were a “one-two punch” against the hunger scare and an “investment in our family.”