The FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, Community FoodBank of New Jersey and FoodBank of South Jersey came together to meet with legislators and discuss the issue of hunger in New Jersey.
In New Jersey, over 1.1. million people are food insecure, meaning they are without reliable access to enough nutritious food they can afford to purchase. One in eight individuals struggle with hunger, and one in three is a child.
According to the 2016 Feeding America Map the Meal Gap study, a total of 185,701,100 meals are needed to fill the hunger gap, and the money needed to meet the food needs in NJ is $552,797,00.
The Executive Directors of each food bank met with their district legislators to discuss the measures that will help increase food security in NJ including:
- Continue to improve business models to expedite Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applications
- Ensure expanded funding for the State Food Purchase Program
- Support measures that expand school breakfast
“Our food banks came together during Hunger Action Month to begin to build a comprehensive policy agenda to compliment the work we are doing. Together, greater things will be accomplished for our neighbors in need,” said Carlos Rodriguez, Executive Director of The FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties.
To get more involved in hunger advocacy, visit our website at www.fulfillnj.org.
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