3/24 – Monmouth County Freeholders Sponsor April Food Drive

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FREEHOLD – The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders is continuing its springtime partnership with the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties and collecting nonperishable food for the entire month of April.
Collection bins will be available at many county locations, including the County Hall of Records, Agriculture Building, care centers, Longstreet Farm, Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, Belford Ferry  Terminal and Monmouth County branch libraries.
Food items suitable for donation are nonperishable, protein-rich foods, such as peanut butter, granola bars and tuna fish. Other most needed food items are ready-to-eat canned meals, canned fruits, canned vegetables, instant potatoes, canned and dry soup, canned pork and beans, canned juices, sip-size juices and hot and cold cereal.
This is the county’s third consecutive April food drive. To date, Monmouth County residents have helped send 20 tons, more than 45,000 pounds, of nonperishable food to the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties. This year’s goal is to collect 25,000 pounds of non-perishable food.
“When the FoodBank started 25 years ago it distributed 100,000 pounds of food,” said Carlos M. Rodriguez, executive director of the FoodBank. “Last year, we supplied more than 260 food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters with 8.5 million pounds of food. We continue to experience an increase in the demand for emergency food. The need is here.”
The county’s partnership with the FoodBank stems from a situation in 2012 during which the county social services office was experiencing a backlog processing applications for food stamps.
The county’s Made In Monmouth event set for April 12 at Monmouth University will be another opportunity for residents to donate. The one-day showcase and shopping festival of products, all made in Monmouth County, will have food donation collection bins at the entrance.
The list of 2014 Monmouth County Food Drive drop-off locations includes;

  • In Atlantic Highlands, Atlantic Highlands Library, 100 First Ave.
  • In Colts Neck, the Colts Neck Library, 1 Winthrop Dr.
  • In Holmdel, Longstreet Farm Visitor Center, Longstreet Road
  • In Middletown, the Belford Ferry Terminal, 10 Harbor Way, and the Thompson Park Visitor Center, 805 Newman Springs Road, LincroftIn Shrewsbury, Monmouth County Library Eastern Branch, 1001 Route 35
  • In West Long Branch, West Long Branch Library, 95 Poplar Ave.