Jersey Shore Magazine

J e r s e y s h o r e • s p r i n g 2 0 1 4 48 2014, $800 million will be cut annu- ally from the food stamp program, according to a January 29, 2014 article on Time Magazine's website. Lynch explained that the network of Foodbanks and feeding programs across the nation would not be able to sustain the anticipated impact of those losing food stamp benefits. For Lynch, the grim reality of the need in Monmouth and Ocean coun- ties became crystal clear when she saw volunteers turn into the needy as a result of the 2008 economic col- the extreme winter weather, includ- ing two polar vortexes at the Jersey Shore. "The need is now, more than ever. It's your neighbor, and if a family had a hard time around the holidays, they will definitely have a problem putting food on the table year-round," he said. Many donors are very generous around the holiday season, but both Lynch and Rodriguez stated that while the holidays come and go, the need is there all year long. The demand for food assistance actually rises in the summer, known as the "Season of Hunger." Food and mon- etary donations tend to slow down as the weather gets warmer, and as schools let out for the summer, children who might get breakfast or lunch at school do not receive those meals. According to Lynch, the most needed items are proteins such as canned fish, chicken or meat, and peanut butter as well as shelf-stable milk products. With a staff nutri- tionist on site, a goal for 2014 is to increase the amount of healthier food donations. "The face of hunger is obesity. Cheap calories are not healthy calories," Lynch said. Rodriguez added, "We hope to increase the quality of the food we distribute. Our goal this year is to distribute over one and a half million pounds of fresh produce. I'm hopeful that more than that will be distrib- uted this year." The Foodbank's inventory of provisions comes from a variety of sources, including local supermar- kets, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and individual donations. "We do purchase fifteen percent of the food in our inventory, but we save money when purchasing because we buy in bulk," said Lynch. All donations and goods are sorted by volunteers, who are trained to check the safety and dates of products. From there, the food is packaged into family boxes, limited cooking facil- ity boxes, and pantry boxes, and the boxes are then distributed to those in need. JERSEY SHORE PROfILE FOOD FOR tHOuGHt, continued from page 47 Foodbank Events Highlighted below are a few of the Foodbank's events held throughout the year. Supporting these events is another way one can help the charity's mission. Cooking With Marilyn Restaurateur Marilyn Schlossbach's third annual "Cooking with Marilyn" series of cooking demonstrations will be held at Langosta Lounge in Asbury Park. Two events are scheduled for this spring. The March 19 theme is "Spring Cooking with Cheese on Main and Paired with Whites, Rosé, and Sparkling Wine," and the April 26 theme is "Cooking Healthy Meals for Kids." Tickets are $65., which includes six courses, wine, cocktails, and a $10. donation to the Foodbank. The events start at 6:00 PM and sell out quickly. Please call (732) 455-3275 to reserve your tickets. 2014 Humanitarian Gala On Saturday, April 26, 2014, the gala will celebrate the Foodbank's thirtieth anniversary at Eagle Oaks Golf and Country Club in Farmingdale. The 2014 honorees are: Tom Donovan, President and Publisher, Asbury Park Press; Jim Filip, Restaurateur and Foodbank Board Member Emeritus; Frank's Big and Tall - The Marowitz Family; Agency Partner: "Lunch Break"; and Jr. Humanitarian: Patrick J. Struke. For tickets or more information, please contact Diana Flippo at (732) 918-2600 ext. 224. Check Out For Hunger This program is held at many major county supermarkets from September through January. At checkout, shoppers can help someone in need by donating $1., $3., or $5. by scanning a coupon that adds the amount to their grocery bill. One hundred percent of all proceeds go to the Foodbank to help end hunger. Ask your local supermarket manager if the store participates in the Check Out For Hunger program. Students Change Hunger Organized by the New Jersey Federation of Food Banks, the yearly, state- wide challenge allows students to band together as a school and collect as many pounds of food as possible with the goal of collecting the most pounds out of all the registered schools. In 2013, a total of 168,702 pounds of food was collected for the challenge, with Monmouth and Ocean county schools collecting 71,148 pounds. lapse. "It made me realize how close hunger is. It is not others. It is all of us. And it could be any of us if we lose our jobs, have an unexpected ill- ness, or survive a storm like Sandy," Lynch said. Carlos Rodriguez is a recognized voice in anti-hunger and poverty and joined the Foodbank as Executive Director in 2012. He said that in addition to the economy, food stamp cuts, and Superstorm Sandy, 2014 has already brought an additional increase in need as a direct result of

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