At the time, Kim Guadagno had no idea what a tearful embrace with a woman in a south New Jersey food pantry would inspire. She just felt compelled to provide comfort.
“She moved here legally,” Guadagno said. “She was working two jobs. And with tears in her eyes she expressed her embarrassment. She was embarrassed at the thought of her daughter, who was serving in the Marines at the time, finding out about her needing the pantry. She was doing everything right and she was still struggling to survive. It’s heartbreaking. We need to do more.”
Guadagno said it was a mother-to-mother moment she’ll never forget and a situation that prompted her to accept the role of president and CEO of Fulfill, a job she began May 6.
The nonprofit organization distributes 13.2 million meals annually through a network of more than 300 programs throughout Monmouth and Ocean counties.
Though Fulfill has strived to alleviate hunger concerns and build food security in its focus territory, Feeding America – a nonprofit national network of more than 200 food banks – reports one in 10 Monmouth and Ocean county residents do not know where their next meal will come from, and of that number, 25,000 children in Ocean County and an additional 21,000 in Monmouth County go to bed hungry each night.
Despite the sobering statistics, Guadagno said hunger concerns will only be mitigated if efforts extend beyond meal provisions.
The former lieutenant governor said her ultimate goal is to put Fulfill, formerly known as the Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean County, out of business, by expanding access to resources and programming for in-need individuals.
“This organization has done incredible work but now we’re looking to take it to the next level. For those who are visiting pantries, we need to get them off the pantry line. And if we fulfill all of their needs, not just their food concerns, then we’ll start to see a significant decrease in use,” Guadagno said.
She said there isn’t necessarily a shortage of resources, but a lack of knowledge about what resources are available.
As a result, Fulfill is embarking on a campaign that will transform the Toms River-based organization from one of the state’s largest networks for food needs into a resource center for housing, childcare, employment, medical care and much more.
“One thing I’ve learned from my previous experience is that New Jersey has plenty of resources to offer, but it’s a matter of getting them to people and encouraging those who can to come and seek them out,” said Guadagno, who also served as Secretary of State under former Gov. Chris Christie from 2010 to 2018 and was the Republican nominee for governor in 2017.
Part of this initiative is nurturing the growth of The B.E.A.T. Center, based in Toms River, a partnership between Fulfill, The People’s Pantry and JBJ Soul Kitchen.
The alliance has not only bolstered Fulfill’s ability to distribute food to those in need, but has provided patrons access to job training, assistance with health insurance and related care services and even tax return help.
According to Guadagno, during the recent 2019 tax season, Fulfill helped recover more than $7 million in taxes for vulnerable families and individuals.
“We’re a great food bank and we’ll continue to be a great food bank, but this is the next chapter for Fulfill. We need to demonstrate why we changed our name in the first place. It’s about fulfilling all the needs of those who are coming to us for help,” Guadagno said.
Guadagno has been a Monmouth County resident for nearly 30 years, a community recognized around country as one of the wealthiest in the United States.
She hopes her new role will provide a platform to reach her neighbors and help them recognize that the numbers are real, the need is significant and hard times are not limited to other population centers.
“I’ve seen a superintendent in Monmouth County get berated for not closing his schools for a snow day. They told me if they had closed a majority of his children would not eat,” Guadagno said. “This is not a Third World country. It’s in our own backyards. It’s at our dinner parties and barbecues. My job is to spread awareness and shorten the lines. And it’s time I put my money where my mouth is.”
This article was first published in the May 16-22, 2019 print edition of The Two River Times.
