NEWARK, NJ — The Community Food Bank of New Jersey recently raised more than $1.36 million at Blue Jeans Bowl 2024.
The annual fundraising event took place at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, and organizers said the funds raised from the event, equivalent to about 4 million meals, will be used to address the “root causes” of hunger in New Jersey.
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This year’s event was symbolic because Newark is where the nonprofit’s founder, Kathleen DiChiara, first began distributing food out of the back of her station wagon in 1975 and where the food bank was first headquartered after it was founded in 1982.
According to the nonprofit, CFBNJ funds were used last year for the following activities:
Distribution – 90 million meals distributed to food insecure New Jerseyans
Education – 54 students educated through CFBNJ’s vocational training program
Provided – Over 180,000 meals to children through after-school and summer programs
HELP – Distributing 37 million pounds of fresh produce to create better health outcomes
Supplies – 3 million feminine hygiene products, 7 million diapers
Preparation – 93,000 family packs for approximately 1.5 million meals
The nonprofit also offered heartfelt congratulations to this year’s “Food, Hope and Help” recipients.
FOOD AWARD (Signature Check-Out Hunger sponsor and partner)
Premio Foods, Wakefern Food Corporation, Wawa Foundation, Wegmans
HELP AWARD (for decades of volunteer and charitable work):
Peerless Beverage Company
HOPE AWARD (Newark-based program partner and change agent in the fight against food insecurity):
FOCUS Hispanic Community Development Center, Inc. New Jersey Devils, Prudential Center, Devils Youth Foundation North Jersey Community Research Initiative Rutgers University-Newark Pantry+ Rutgers Heath Food Pantry St. James Social Services Corporation Treehouse Cares
“It was a magical night,” said Elizabeth McCarthy, president and CEO of the food bank, the state’s largest anti-hunger organization.
“Hundreds of New Jersey community members came together to [our] “We are on a mission to end hunger,” said McCarthy, who thanked the honorees, sponsors, chairs, attendees and others who contributed to the evening’s success.
“We are incredibly grateful to our advocates who continue to work to address food insecurity,” McCarthy said.
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