As part of the Christie Administration’s “Season of Service” NJDOT’s donates trucks full of food to four charities across NJ

Fourth annual department-wide food drive helps those in need this holiday season

More than 3,700 items, such as canned goods and personal care products, were donated by NJDOT employees to help those in need. The effort was part of Governor Chris Christie’s seventh annual “Season of Service” initiative in which the Governor, First Lady Mary Pat Christie, and leaders of state departments take part in community service projects around the state.

In the fourth annual NJDOT food drive, the Department collected food and non-perishable items to benefit a food bank in each of the Department’s three regions. North Region employees donated goods to Holy Trinity Church Food Pantry in Westfield; Central Region donated to Fulfill, formerly the Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean counties, in Neptune; and South Region donated to the Food Bank of South Jersey located in Pennsauken.

In addition, NJDOT headquarters staff collected goods for Arm in Arm, formerly the Crisis Ministry of Mercer County, which has been a beneficiary each year of the Department’s food drive. More than 1,900 pounds of goods were donated to Arm in Arm, which has a value of more than $3,200. NJDOT employees also donated $615 to support Arm in Arm programs, bringing the total benefit to more than $3,800.

The Season of Service campaign was spearheaded by the Department’s operations and maintenance staff. It provided employees who work at any of the 66 maintenance facilities, as well as those employees at headquarters in Trenton, an opportunity to participate.

“NJDOT personnel are proud to support those in need throughout New Jersey,” NJDOT Commissioner Richard T. Hammer said. “Every day our employees serve the State’s residents and motorists by maintaining our roads and bridges. Our annual Season of Service food drive provides employees in the Department’s three regions another way to have a positive impact in the communities in which they work.”

About the Charities

Arm in Arm, formerly the Crisis Ministry of Mercer County, connects people in need of food, housing and job support with people who want to help. Its three Client Choice food pantries provide a variety of heart-healthy food and personal care products such as soap, toothpaste, and diapers to up to 1,300 low-income households across Mercer County each month.

The Westfield Food Pantry at Holy Trinity Church for the past 30 years has been located in the Holy Trinity Interparochial School at 336 First Street. The pantry and its services have grown tremendously from its early days. It now provide food to approximately 125 families a month, all of whom are referred by social service agencies throughout Union County.

Fulfill, formerly the Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, changed its name to reflect the fact that it focuses on more than food distribution. It reflects their commitment to fulfill more of the needs of their neighbors and win the battle against hunger. It reflects their comprehensive approach that goes beyond providing food and helps those in need get to a place where they can get back on their feet for good. Ending hunger in its communities is a complex challenge, so Fulfill provides a full suite of programs to provide the resources people need to become self-sufficient.

The Food Bank of South Jersey works with 250 food pantries, soup kitchens, rescues and homeless shelters, as well as direct services programs that target the most vulnerable groups – children and the elderly – in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem counties to provide healthy foods to families in need. In 2016, the Food Bank of South Jersey distributed more than 11 million pounds of food.