TOMS RIVER, NJ – Fulfill, a prominent food bank in New Jersey, recently enhanced its operations by donating five new 2023 Ram ProMaster vans to local pantries. This significant move, funded by a New Jersey Food & Hunger Grant, aims to improve food distribution efficiency.
The vans will enable pantry operators to carry out larger and more frequent retail food pickups, effectively preventing the waste of wholesome food. This initiative comes at a critical time, as pantry usage in Monmouth and Ocean counties has surged to more than double its pre-pandemic levels, with a 30% increase over the previous year.
Fulfill and its network have been distributing food sufficient for around 1.3 million meals monthly. In comparison, the organization distributed 17.1 million pounds of food in 2023, a stark increase from 3 million pounds in 2001. The new vans are expected to bolster these efforts further.
The recipient pantries, paired with local food retailers, include:
- Freehold Area Open Door Pantry, Freehold
- Faith Community Food Pantry, Bayville
- St. Brigid’s Pantry and Kitchen at St. James Episcopal Church, Long Branch
- Jackson Women of Today Food Pantry, Jackson
- St. Luke’s Toms River Food Pantry, Toms River
Triada Stampas, President & CEO of Fulfill, highlighted the importance of these donations in addressing the increased demands on food banks. Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin also expressed his support and commitment to the cause.
Fulfill’s network encompasses approximately 300 partners across Monmouth and Ocean counties. The selected pantries were chosen based on their participation in Fulfill’s Enabled Agency Program, capacity for food distribution, and proximity to retail partners. These partners include Aldi, BJ’s, Costco, ShopRite, Stop & Shop, Target, Trader Joe’s, Walmart, Wegmans, and Whole Foods in various locations.
The van donations are part of Fulfill’s broader strategy to enhance food security in the region. The organization plans to increase its warehouse capacity and launch a capital campaign to support its expanding operations and meet the community’s growing food needs.