Food Drive To Benefit Military Personnel In Ocean County

MANAHAWKIN, NJ — Active servicemen and women at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst struggle every day to put food on their tables. A local radio station is partnering with the county to help fix that.

WBNJ 91.9 FM, together with the Ocean County Board of Commissioners and the Ocean County Veterans Service Bureau, will hold a food drive on Oct. 5 at the Ocean County Southern Service Center 179 Main Street/Route 9 in Manahawkin.

This food drive will benefit the Military Support Alliance Food Warriors Program. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., WBNJ will broadcast live soliciting listeners to help by donating non-perishable food items to fill a box truck.

The Food Warriors program needs over 4,000 pounds of food per week to keep up with the needs of these families stationed at the base.

"No one is going hungry on my watch," said MSA Food Warriors Coordinator Mike Schaffer in a news release.

Items needed are cake mixes, brownie mixes, grits, salad dressings, breakfast bars, mac & cheese, flavored side dishes, breakfast cereal, pancake syrup, pancake mixes, canned goods, dry pasta, pasta sauces, peanut butter, jelly, or any non-perishable food item.

"We are pleased to join with WBNJ 91.9 FM in supporting this event," said Ocean County Commissioner Gary Quinn, who serves as liaison to the Ocean County Veterans Service Bureau. "Ocean County is proud to be home to the largest veteran population in the state. Through the Veterans Service Bureau, we work to make certain our military members are supported in all areas. We encourage our residents to come out on Oct. 5 to donate food and to also meet the staff of our Veterans Service Bureau."