Jersey Shore Schools Provide Nearly 200,000 Meals to People in Need During Holiday Season
Ranney School in Tinton Falls was announced the 2019 Heavyweight Champion of the Students Change Hunger Competition in Monmouth and Ocean Counties, to benefit Fulfill, formerly the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties. The award was for collecting the most food and funds in its division. The announcement was made at the 13th Annual Students Change Hunger Awards Ceremony this afternoon at iPlay America in Freehold.
Ranney School collected 6,456 pounds of food and funds, taking home the top title in their division and joining the 5,000 Pound Club in the Students Change Hunger Competition. In all, 67 schools in Monmouth and Ocean Counties participated in the challenge. Together with more than a dozen sponsors, the schools collectively provided nearly 200,000 meals to feed people in need during the holiday season by their contributions to Fulfill.
“It is heartwarming that so many children got involved in this year’s Student Change Hunger competition. A huge thank you to all the students, teachers, and parents who participated. Fulfill feeds 136,000 people in Monmouth and Ocean Counties – 50,000 of them are children. So, this is truly kids helping kids… and it’s a beautiful thing to see,” said Fulfill CEO and President Kim Guadagno, the former Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey.
The statewide competition was organized by the Federation of New Jersey Food Banks. The Federation challenged all students, staff, teachers and parents to think of those less fortunate throughout the school year by organizing a food and drive at their school, which ran from September 16, 2019 through December 9, 2019. In Monmouth and Ocean Counties, 19 schools received awards for their exceptional efforts to feed our food insecure neighbors:
- Ranney School, Tinton Falls – 2019 Heavyweight Champion, 5,000 Pound Club
- Howell High School, Howell – Division 6 Award, 5,000 Pound Club, All Star Teacher Award to Teacher Camille Mussari (sponsored by the New Jersey Education Association, NJEA)
- Memorial Middle School, Point Pleasant – Division 4 Award, 5,000 Pound Club
- Point Pleasant Borough High School, Point Pleasant – Division 5 Award, 1,500 Pound Club
- Ocean Road Elementary School, Point Pleasant – 1,500 Pound Club
- Brick Memorial High School, Brick – Division 2 Award, 2,500 Pound Club
- Midstreams Elementary School, Brick – Division 4 Award, 2,500 Pound Club
- Lanes Mill Elementary School, Brick – 1,500 Pound Club
- Monmouth Beach Elementary School, Monmouth Beach – Division 3 Award, 1,500 Pound Club
- Lafayette Mills School, Manalapan – 1,500 Pound Club
- Alpha High School, Jackson – Pounds Per Student Award, Division 1 Award, 1,500 Pound Club
- Millstone Township Middle School, Millstone – Division 3 Award, 1,500 Pound Club
- Freehold Regional Culinary Academy, Englishtown – Student Leadership Award
- Howell Middle School South, Howell – Student Leadership Award, 1,500 Pound Club, Educator with an Edge: Fight Against Hunger Award to Teacher Dan Finn (sponsored by Plymouth Rock’s Teachers’ Insurance Plan of New Jersey)
- H.W. Mountz Elementary School, Spring Lake – The Philip N. Connelly Award
- Brielle Elementary School, Brielle – 1,500 Pound Club
- Home Away from Home Academy, Holmdel – Division 2 Preschool Award
- Marlboro Montessori Academy, Marlboro – Division 2 Award
- Marlboro Memorial Middle School, Marlboro – Division 5 Award, 1,500 Pound Club, State Champ Award (description below), Mary Conlon Spirit Award to Student Andrea Waxman for best essay on volunteerism, Artwork Award to Student Kriti Srivastava for designing the 2019 plaques.
Additionally, the 2019 Students Change Hunger State Championship Award winner is Marlboro Memorial Middle School. This category required a separate application and was voted on by members from all of the food banks in New Jersey. Fulfill is planning a separate award ceremony at Marlboro Memorial Middle School to celebrate their accomplishment.
The sponsors for this event include: Press Communication, Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation, New Jersey Education Association, Plymouth Rock Assurance, Sea View The Jeep Store, Ryser’s Landscaping Supply, A.J. Perri, La Playa – Chilangos, Irwin Lincoln & Irwin Mazda, New Jersey Outboards, Brookdale Community College, Hutchins HVAC, New Jersey Natural Gas, Sea Breeze Ford, iPlay America, and Ashley HomeStore.
A special thank you to Press Communications for its partnership with Fulfill on the Student Change Hunger Competition for the last 13 years. In appreciation, Fulfill presented Press Communications with an Impact Award.
iPlay America was also presented with an Impact Award for its dedication to Students Change Hunger and Fulfill. iPlay America has graciously opened its doors for the past five years to host the recognition event for all the participating schools.