Secretary Wengryn Distributes Food to Support Families Ahead of Thanksgiving

New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn today joined volunteers and Southern Regional Food Distribution Center (SRFDC) Executive Director Jill N. Lombardo-Melchiore at their Vineland facility for their Turkey Day Food Drive to help provide food to neighbors in need.

“Food insecurity is a real issue facing many New Jersey families, and as we approach the holiday season, the work of SRFDC is even more important,” Secretary Wengryn said. “Connecting our New Jersey farmers with our food banks, pantries, and soup kitchens means we can ensure a more secure food future for New Jerseyans.”

During the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, SRFDC distributes to their network of local distributing agencies (LDAs) all the “dry” goods needed to complete a holiday meal, including: cranberry sauce, canned veggies, nuts, flour, oils, stuffing mix, etc. On the annual Turkey Day distribution, LDAs pick up the turkeys and produce from SRFDC, which distributed15,000 turkeys and 3,000 whole chickens this year.

“Southern Regional Food Distribution Center is proud to be part of a network dedicated to caring for the basic needs of our community,” said Executive Director Jill N. Lombardo-Melchiore. “Our network includes our partners at the NJ Department of Agriculture, our suppliers, volunteers, staff, and, of course, the pantries and soup kitchens who serve with heart and compassion all year long”.

SRFDC serves over 120 pantries in 9 counties and over 500,000 meals annually. It receives donations from the public, various religious organizations, local businesses, and grants through government programs, such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s State Food and Hunger Grant and Hunger Initiative. The food provided through these programs includes poultry, pork, fish, fresh produce, and other items, allowing residents to choose from a variety of nutritious options to meet their families’ needs. Nearly 1 million people in New Jersey are food insecure, including more than 260,000 children.

Contact information for each of the six Emergency Feeding Organizations and the counties they serve in New Jersey can be found at https://bit.ly/40X4EF2.