Updates Regarding Recent Changes

 

An Update From Fulfill’s President and CEO

11/19/2025

Your Gift Made a Difference

Thank you for your quick and generous response to our call for support during the federal government shutdown.  When many families were unsure where their next meal would come from, your support brought immediate relief and hope.  

The first days of November were a time of incredible hardship for the families we serve: rent and other bills were coming due without SNAP to help pay for food for nearly 90,000 of our neighbors, and with two missed paychecks for most federal workers. School was out for all or part of the week, meaning children didn’t have access to school breakfast and lunch. At moments like this, a food bank is the only option for families that are out of options. 

This is where you come in. Thanks to you, Fulfill was able to mobilize rapidly throughout Monmouth & Ocean Counties. In just 12 days, Fulfill distributed an additional 110,000 pounds of food in emergency response. Two thousand families received food through emergency mobile pantry distributions. Your generosity fueled our response.            

Your impact: 

• Bolstered Our Network: We ramped up food distribution to our nearly 300 agency partner sites. October saw 1.9 million pounds of food distributed, Fulfill’s highest distribution month on record. We rushed additional food to pantries and soup kitchens open the first weekend of November to help prepare them for our neighbors’ first days without SNAP. 

• Filled Gaps with Mobile Pantries: Our mobile pantries brought food directly to families most affected by the shutdown. 

• • We launched pop-up mobile distributions during Jersey Week school closures in Long Branch, Jackson and Manchester, school districts with high SNAP enrollment.  

• • We partnered with the Ocean County Office of Emergency Management to deliver protein, produce, dairy and dry goods for 500 families for a Toms River distribution at Ocean County College.  

• • We delivered and distributed 100% kosher protein, produce, dairy and dry goods for 1,000 food-insecure families at the Jersey Shore BlueClaws stadium in Lakewood. 

• Expanded Our Reach: We engaged 25 community organizations outside of our agency network as disaster response partners to distribute 3,000 crisis boxes filled with shelf-stable food. 

Many of our neighbors expressed deep gratitude for the help they received, made possible by your generosity. We’re also grateful for our volunteers who took extra shifts, sorted the influx of donations, packed crisis boxes and bags, and staffed our mobile pantries.  

While the immediate crisis has passed, food insecurity remains a daily reality for many of our neighbors. Demand for assistance from our pantry network has more than doubled since the pandemic. The shutdown was 43 days, but replenishing our food supply will take months. As we regroup, our team is reflecting on what worked, how we can improve, and strengthening partnerships for future responses.  

Together, as a community, we are ensuring that Hunger Won’t Win Here! 

Thank you again for your incredible dedication to our mission. 

With gratitude, 

Triada Stampas
President and CEO 

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October 29, 2025 

Update on our Response to the Government Shutdown 

Four weeks into the federal government shutdown, and we are entering uncharted territory: on November 1st, SNAP benefits, a critical lifeline for over 88,000 people in Monmouth & Ocean Counties, will not be issued for the first time in the program’s history. Of these 88,000 people, 60% are either children or senior citizens, with little or no control over their income.   

In our service area, for those SNAP benefits represent 4.3 million meals per month.  Fulfill’s monthly distribution lately has been approximately 1.2 million meals per month. To replace the meals lost, Fulfill will need to nearly triple our monthly distribution of food.  

To that end Fulfill has:  

• Launched emergency fundraising. We need the community’s help. We are also talking to grant funders and our government partners for assistance.  

• We have initiated our emergency service protocols, which includes coordinating communications among our pantry network, ramping up food purchases, engaging volunteers to aid in packing crisis boxes so we can move food where it’s needed quickly, and coordinating with non-traditional partners to be there for our neighbors.  

• We are coordinating with the South Jersey Food Bank to provide for emergency mobile pantries at the Joint Base Fort Dix/McGuire for government employees of the base that have been furloughed.  

For those impacted that need assistance in finding a location to access food, our website lists all of our agency partners with their hours of operation. Many are working to expand their hours of operation at this time if possible.  

We have established on online request portal for community service agencies who would like to request Crisis Boxes to distribute at their locations. These distributions are targeted to those directly impacted by the shut down – either federal workers or SNAP recipients.  

We are working with our county partners to prepare for additional distribution sites, if they become necessary. While we hope the government shut down will end soon, we are prepared to be there for our neighbors if we are needed.   

How you can help right now: 

• Donate. Your support gives us flexibility in times of uncertainty. It helps us mobilize faster and fill in gaps when delays happen. 

• Volunteer. Extra hands and hearts will be needed to keep distributions and outreach going. 

• Raise your voice. Speak with your elected officials. Let them know that food security is non-negotiable. 

To the families we serve: Even if federal systems slow down, Fulfill will not stop. We will keep doing everything within our power to be here for you. 

To SNAP recipients and federal government employees and contractors: If you or your family are experiencing hardship during this shutdown, we are here for you as well. You can locate a nearby food pantry or other partner to access the food you need here: https://fulfillnj.org/get-help/locate-a-pantry-or-soup-kitchen/ 

To our supporters and partners: Thank you. The strength of our community is our greatest asset. When we face uncertainty, we lean in – to each other, to our mission, and to the courage of countless neighbors who refuse to see hunger win here. 

We are all in this together. 

Sincerely,
Triada Stampas
President & CEO, Fulfill 

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October 2, 2025

Our Commitment During the Federal Shutdown

Over the past year, the number of our Monmouth and Ocean County neighbors relying on food pantries and soup kitchens jumped to more than 115,000 per month – more than doubling in just five years.  This sustained level of need is unprecedented in our area, and our nearly 300 partners across our two counties – food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, afterschool programs, senior programs, and other community distribution sites – have been stretched to serve as never before.

A government shutdown puts extraordinary pressure on an already fragile system. Those most directly affected are the federal employees and federal contractors who face the prospect of going without a paycheck to feed their families – including thousands in our two counties. While lifeline programs like SNAP, WIC and school meals are funded in the near term, an extended shutdown could put future benefit issuances at risk for millions of families who depend on these programs for the food they need.

When people lose their source of income, or nutrition support is delayed or paused, the burden shifts immediately and heavily to local partners like us. As the food bank of Monmouth & Ocean Counties, Fulfill is:

• Continuing to mobilize resources to sustain services, even if federal funds pause.
• Deepening collaboration with local partners, schools, pantries, faith-based organizations, and municipal agencies so no one falls through the cracks.
• Increasing communications and transparency – we’ll regularly update the community on how this is affecting operations, distribution, and access.
• Advocating strongly at the state and federal level for the protection of programs proven to reduce hunger and instability.

But even our best efforts won’t be enough without all of us working together.

How you can help right now:

• Donate. Your support gives us flexibility in times of uncertainty. It helps us mobilize faster and fill in gaps when delays happen.
• Volunteer. Extra hands and hearts will be needed to keep distributions and outreach going.
• Raise your voice. Speak with your elected officials. Let them know that food security is nonnegotiable.

To the families we serve: Even if federal systems slow down, Fulfill will not stop. We will keep doing everything within our power to be here for you.

To federal government employees and contractors: If you or your family are experiencing hardship during this shutdown, we are here for you as well. You can locate a nearby food pantry or other partner to access the food you need here: https://fulfillnj.org/get-help/locate-a-pantry-or-soup-kitchen/

To our supporters and partners: Thank you. The strength of our community is our greatest asset. When we face uncertainty, we lean in – to each other, to our mission, and to the courage of countless neighbors who refuse to see hunger win here.

We are all in this together.

Sincerely,
Triada Stampas
President & CEO, Fulfill

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July 23, 2025

July 8, 2025

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May 16, 2025

I’ve been receiving many questions about the changes happening in Washington, D.C. and how they are affecting Fulfill and our neighbors facing hunger. I’m writing today to you, as a dedicated supporter, to fill you in on the current situation, and to ask for your help. Regardless of how policies change and resources shift, you can be certain we remain focused and resolute in our mission to fight hunger in Monmouth and Ocean Counties.

It’s a need that’s hard to fathom, but it’s unfortunately a hard reality. Sudden cuts to federal aid mean we aren’t receiving 150,000 pounds of food our community expected and desperately needs over the next two months. Here at Fulfill, that breaks down to about $250,000 worth of food that we planned for, but won’t be delivered.

This sudden deficit leaves us with one option: We must purchase the essential, nutritious items that The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) would have provided. Because the cost of not providing this assistance is far greater.

Staggering numbers of neighbors coming to pantries keep rising. Soaring home prices and rental costs, plus an increase in the cost of food and healthcare are squeezing wallets and forcing unthinkable choices. People need basic, nutrient-rich foods including fruits, vegetables, dairy and other staples just to get through their days.

How great is the need? A sliver of the unsettling statistics* from Monmouth and Ocean counties shows:

• One in 10 people (and one in nine children) is food-insecure, meaning they are unsure where their next meal will come from. That’s roughly 10.2% of residents.
• Visits to food pantries increased by about 92% from 2022 to 2024.
• About 45% of those who are food insecure earn just enough to disqualify them from government food assistance programs, but not enough to afford the food they and their families need.
• We serve 103,000+ neighbors each month across Monmouth and Ocean counties

Who faces hunger? Hunger is often invisible. It can be the local children who play with our kids, the seniors who once cared for us. It might be your neighbors who you see at the local grocery store or who worship alongside you.

Individuals and families find themselves having to navigate the painful reality of going without nutritious food. Pantries we supply with fresh produce, chicken, milk and other staples rely on us to provide these essentials.

Since learning of these order cancellations, Fulfill has reached out to funders, and we are shifting some of their funds toward food purchases. Funds we had put in reserve for our next fiscal year, we have reallocated back to this year. As of this writing, we have been able to make up almost half of the $250,000 gap, but we still need to raise nearly $130,000 more.

The need is immense. But what is greater is our community’s capacity to make a difference. We need your help.

Your donation can help make up this deficit and help us purchase food to replace what was lost. This is more than a donation. This is how we show up for one another in an unprecedented situation. Together, we can replace what was lost and keep nutritious food on the tables of those who need it most. Act now so no one goes hungry. Share this critical message. Learn more about this need in the Asbury Park Press. Donate.

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April 16, 2025

Here’s what’s happening:

• Food needs are at an all-time high: We are helping approximately 110,000 of our Monmouth and Ocean County neighbors every month through our 300 partner food pantries, soup kitchens, and food distribution sites. With the cost of living still beyond many families’ means, this is more than double the number we were serving before the pandemic.
• Canceled USDA food deliveries leave a $250,000 gap: A considerable portion of our food supply comes from the federal government via the US Department of Agriculture, as well as some support for storage and distribution costs. Several USDA food deliveries have been canceled, which means we will miss out on 150,000 pounds of food between now and June. This includes important items like frozen chicken, turkey, cheese, and low-fat milk. We need $250,000 to replace the lost food deliveries.
• Farm-to-food bank program also cut: A USDA program that supplies locally farmed food to food banks, the Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program (LFPA), has ended. Funding for the program will last only until the end of this year’s growing season.
• Uncertainty in a shifting federal landscape: A long-term strategy on food security is still emerging from the federal government. In the meantime, we are operating in uncertainty as changes in federal funding are affecting our ability to procure and distribute food.

We know you may have questions, and we will keep you updated as we learn more. You can read about the need in the Asbury Park Press. In the meantime, our Monmouth and Ocean County neighbors cannot wait for food. Your support during the pandemic made all the difference, and we hope you will help again. Please consider making a donation to close the food gap today. For every $1 donated, we provide 3 healthy meals to children, families, veterans, and seniors.

How You Can Help:

1. Donate: Your monetary gift will directly support feeding our neighbors.
   • $1,000 provides 3,000+ meals
   • $100 provides 300+ meals
   • $50 provides 150+ meals
2. Advocate: Contact your local legislators to make a difference.
3. Host a food drive: Collect food from your workplace or community to support those in need.

We are committed to connecting people to food and resources to help them get back on their feet. We are working with our staff, partner agencies, and other food banks across the country to find solutions. We are focusing on getting our neighbors the food they need most: protein, produce, and dairy. Our community needs to come together now more than ever. Your support is crucial during this uncertain time.

Thank you for standing with us to ensure our food-insecure neighbors have access to the nutritious food they need to thrive.

With gratitude,

Triada Stampas
President & CEO