Curbing Hunger Food Drive

County officials, federal and state legislators and food bank supporters this week launched the 17th annual Curbing Hunger food drive to help boost food supplies at the Food Bank Network of Somerset County, the Franklin Township Food Bank and other local food pantries serving Somerset County residents. 

Somerset County residents have a quick, easy way to help:

• Orange plastic bags were distributed to county households in May – look for them tied to the handle of your blue recycling bucket. 
• If you did not receive a bag, you can use a regular plastic grocery bag and write “FOOD” on it with a waterproof marker.
• Place canned food donations in the bags and leave them at the curb on your regularly scheduled recycling collection days from June 6 through July 1.
• High on the list of needed items are Parmalat milk, canned meat and fish, “meals-in-a-can” such as pasta, stews and meaty soups, canned tomato sauce, canned fruits, and peanut butter and jelly in plastic jars. Perishables and food in glass containers cannot be accepted.

Food supplies at food banks and food pantries are traditionally low during the summer months, when school lunch programs are closed and donations fall off due to vacations and the lack of major holiday food drives.  That’s why the annual Curbing Hunger food collection is conducted in June.

The Curbing Hunger campaign is a joint effort of the Somerset County Board of Freeholders, the county Recycling Center, county and municipal public works departments, the Food Bank Network of Somerset County and Curbing Hunger Inc.

Anyone wishing to make a monetary donation may send a check to Curbing Hunger Inc., P.O. Box 202, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920.  For more information, call (908) 344-5571.