We Can't Let This Bank Fail

Not every bank will be recieving a bailout this year.

There's one bank that really needs your help during the holidays. If you only do one charitable thing in the next two weeks, please help a hungry family in New Jersey put food on their table by supporting our largest Food Bank.

I'm really proud to be part of the Blogging out Hunger campaign. There are over 100 of us putting the word out today to try and make a difference in the lives of people who are hungry in our state.

Check out this video which shows how serious the situation is for hungry families in New Jersey this year.

The economy is taking it's toll on hard working families in New Jersey this year, and nowhere is that more evident than at the Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ), the largest food bank in the state, where requests for food have gone up 30 percent, but donations are down by 25 percent.

Warehouse shelves that are typically stocked with food are bare and supplies have gotten so low that, for the first time in its 25 year history, the food bank is developing a rationing mechanism.

As the state's key distributor of food to local banks – serving more than 500,000 people a year and providing assistance to nearly 1,700 non-profits in the state – the stability of replenishment of the CFBNJ is essential to ensuring that individuals in need have access to food.


There are a few simple things you can do to make a huge difference:
Make a monetary contribution: Visit http://www.njfoodbank.org/. Even $5 would go a long way.
Donate food: Drop off a bag of food at your local food pantry. You can find them at http://www.sefan.org/
Organize a food drive: It's very easy to start a food drive. Just call 908-355-FOOD for details.
Help "Check Out Hunger:" Look for the "Check Out Hunger" coupons at your local supermarket and donate. No donation is too small.

Some facts about hunger in America:

More than 35 million Americans, including 12 million children, either live with or are on the verge of hunger. - USDA, Household Food Security in the United States, 2006

The number of families coming to churches and food banks trying to get help to feed their families has increased approximately 20 percent. - National Anti-Hunger Organizations, 2008 Blueprint to End Hunger

According to a recent survey, 6 percent of Americans said they or someone in their immediate family has gone to bed hungry in the past month because they could not afford enough food. - 2008 Hormel Hunger Survey

One out of every five New Jersey families does not earn enough to afford the basic necessities – housing, food and child care – although 85 percent of these households have at least one family member who is working. – Poverty Research Institute, June 2008

In New Jersey alone, an estimated 250,000 new clients will be seeking sustenance this year from the state’s food banks. – “No Food on the table,” By Judy Peet, The Star-Ledger, Oct. 23, 2008