By Frank Sinatra, AAP Editor

Last month, Congressman Donald Norcross was on hand at the Food Bank of South Jersey to announce almost $1 million in federal funding has been secured for the largest hunger relief organization in the region. These funds are earmarked for the purchase of hybrid vehicles, which will not only decrease the food bank’s carbon footprint, but also expand its ability to serve the food insecure throughout South Jersey.

“It is all about logistics. You accept the food, sort, get it ready, you know the pantries you’re working with. You have to get it there,” said Congressman Norcross. “We have an opportunity to do community funded projects. The first on that list is to help you with those logistics. The check here for $970,000 will buy that next generation fleet of hybrid, clean moving vans and trucks so you can get that food where it’s needed as quickly as possible.”

“With this funding, the Food Bank will be able to transition from gas powered to hybrid vehicles, reducing emissions and our carbon footprint, doing our small part to help fight climate change,” explained Fred C. Wasiak, president and CEO of the Food Bank of South Jersey. “Additionally, the reduction in fuel costs will enable our organization to invest more toward programs and services that create a more equitable system of addressing nutrition and food insecurity in our communities.

“Nearly 365 days a year, vehicles in our fleet are out delivering hope to our neighbors in our South Jersey communities, reaching 100,000 people every month, who rely on us for life sustaining resources. Each year, our staff logs over 250,000 miles. So the sustainability of hybrid vehicles will help.”

“By making this appropriation available to the Food Bank of South Jersey, to purchase these hybrids will ensure several things,” added Pastor Georgia Dennis of Love Ministries Outreach International, Pennsauken, who heads up one of the Food Bank’s largest pantries and also serves on the organization’s Board of Trustees. “There are environmental advantages, which include reduced emissions and less fuel consumption; the money saved from the purchase of gas means more food for the families in our community; guaranteed and faster food delivery to all agencies involved; efficiency and effectiveness at a new level; and the validation of our message of hope. And that hope does not disappoint.”

The Food Bank of South Jersey believes that no one should go to bed hungry. Since 1985, it has served the children, families, and seniors of Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem counties by distributing safe and healthy food, providing nutrition education and cooking courses, and developing sustainable pathways for neighbors to improve their lives. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and member of Feeding America, FBSJ distributed nearly 15 million meals in 2021, through direct distributions and its network of more than 200 partner agencies. For more information, visit FoodBankSJ.org.