IT’S YOUR COMMUNITY, TOO! HAVEN'T YOU NOTICED?

The Holiday Hunger Food Drive is the current hunger relief effort by the Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties being conducted now through Monday, November 12. The organization is attempting to promote the through most area schools, soliciting both food donations and monetary contributions to continue its mission to feed needy families in our community for the upcoming holidays.

This mission actually began back in 1984, with a few people who saw hunger in the community and were appalled by its existence. They saw people living under the boardwalks and living in the woods -– with nowhere to turn for food.

Now, more than 20 years later, people are surprised to find that hunger persists in our community. Here in the most affluent country in the world, more than 38.2 million people do not have access to enough food to meet their basic needs. About 3.6 million of these people are elderly, while 13.8 million are children.

In Monmouth and Ocean counties alone, it is estimated that over 100,000 people are at risk of hunger at some time each month, including about 40,000 youngsters.

The Goddard School at 255 Route 70 in Toms River, a privately owned pre-school for young children, is proud to be a continuing participant in the collection of non-perishable food items for the Food Bank. Families and friends are encouraged to participate by bringing their donations to our location, on Mondays through Fridays, during business hours.

Other members of the community can participate by making their contributions NOW to the Food Bank. FoodBankMOC can be reached by telephone at 732-918-2600 or on the internet at www.foodbankmoc.org. Because the Food Bank is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, all contributions are tax-deductible. And, for every dollar they raise, 90 cents goes directly to support the programs to help the needy.

Yours in caring, Ms. Dana Chibbaro