The Food Bank of South Jersey (FBSJ) is seeking volunteers to assist in preparing, packing, and delivering a half million meals to 8,000 low-income children through their Summer Meals Program (SMP). FBSJ staff will rely on volunteers to assist in a variety of tasks including preparing and packing meals, sorting food items, and site monitoring.

Volunteer recruitment is open to individual adults, large groups, business organizations, and students 13 years old and above looking for community service hour opportunities. Children ages 10 years old and older can also volunteer but must be accompanied by a supervising adult. Those interested in volunteering can sign up by visiting www.foodbanksj.org/summermeals or downloading the free FBSJ Smartphone App available on the Apple iTunes Store or Google Play Store. Any questions can be directed to Volunteer Services by emailing volunteers@foodbanksj.org or calling (856) 662-4884 ext. 160.

With more than 57,000 hungry children struggling with food insecurity in South Jersey, FBSJ is focused on ensuring kids who rely on reduced meal programs during the school year, have consistent access to fresh and nutritious meals while school is out of session. The Pennsauken-based organization will plan to feed children enrolled in various community programs, summer schools, and church programs at 168 sites in Camden, Burlington, Gloucester, and Salem counties by functioning as a “self-prep” sponsor, procuring food directly from wholesalers, preparing meals, and packing an average of 5,000 breakfasts, lunches, and snacks daily, delivering them to participating sites on time each day.