Neptune, NJ – What began in 1984 as a compassionate response to a local need has evolved into a transformative approach to building food security at the central Jersey Shore. This year, Fulfill, formerly known as the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, celebrates its start and its four decades of fighting hunger and improving lives.
Forty years ago, a local pantry leader teamed up with a few like-minded visionaries who were compelled to do something about the need they were seeing. They pooled their resources and on October 2, 1984, the food bank was founded in a Spring Lake warehouse. In its inaugural year, it offered aid to 25 charities with 100,000 pounds of food.
Driven by escalating need, Fulfill’s reach expanded. Within a decade, the organization was distributing nearly 2 million pounds of food annually. This growth necessitated the construction of its 43,000 sq ft headquarters in Neptune in 2001, catalyzing a 50 percent increase in food distribution in just one year.
Seeking to address the underlying causes of food insecurity, Fulfill’s response evolved. With a production kitchen in its Neptune headquarters, Fulfill launched its culinary training program to give local residents the opportunity to learn new job skills, and apply those skills to preparing after-school and summer meals for low-income children. A garden education program on the grounds teaches residents affordable ways to grow their own food. In 2006, Fulfill became one of the first food banks in America to help eligible residents apply for SNAP benefits (then called food stamps) and secure a sustainable monthly food budget to pay for groceries.
Fulfill has been at the front lines of the response to disasters and crises. In the aftermath of Super Storm Sandy, it not only continued distributing food without interruption, but also addressed longer-term recovery needs by adding health insurance enrollment assistance, and for many years, free tax preparation. Fulfill’s Ocean County satellite facility, the BEAT Center in Toms River, became a hub of support for a still-recovering community when it opened in 2016.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, when many food pantries and soup kitchens suspended operations, Fulfill offered community distribution of emergency food boxes, and partnered with local restaurants to provide prepared meals for home delivery for those isolating at home.
Fulfill’s 40-year journey reflects a commitment to accelerating food security through partnership and collaboration. “Our mission is not just about food distribution; it’s about connecting people to resources and removing systemic barriers that perpetuate hunger,” said Triada Stampas, President & CEO of Fulfill. “And none of it would be possible without our community: the charities and government agencies that partner with us, the volunteers who give us their time and talent, the supporters who fund our work.”
Today, Fulfill is distributing enough food for 1.2 million meals every month – a scale that would have been unimaginable four decades ago. Partnerships with nearly 300 community-based organizations drive the ground-level efforts to provide food and essential services.
“Our vision is to create a community where everyone has access to the food and services they need, and our network becomes a catalyst for change,” Stampas emphasizes.
As Fulfill marks four decades of unwavering commitment, the organization continues to evolve, forge new partnerships, and grow its impact. Fulfill is not just a food bank; it is a testament to the power of collective action against hunger, a beacon of hope for the community it serves. To learn more about Fulfill’s mission or to become involved in the movement, visit www.fulfillnj.org.