Middlesex County Unveils New Branding For MCFOODS

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ — Food distribution organization Middlesex County Food Organization and Outreach Distribution Services (MCFOODS), has now been rebranded as REPLENISH, the County announced.

REPLENISH, which was under the purview of the Middlesex County Improvement Authority, will now operate within the Department of Community Services.

The new brand will make its official public debut on Sep. 5, at the annual Labor Day Concert at Roosevelt Park, Edison. Non-perishable food items and/or monetary donations will be collected.

“The core values that MCFOODS was founded on will continue to live through REPLENISH. REPLENISH, and its leadership team, led by Jennifer Apostol, will remain committed to community collaboration in the fight to eradicate hunger within our County but will do so under a brand identity that is better aligned with its missions,” Director of the Board of County Commissioners Ronald G. Rios said in a media statement.

“The Board of County Commissioners and I are proud to support REPLENISH in this transformation and look forward to continuing food distribution to those most in need throughout our community.”

The food distribution organization has a 5,000 square foot warehouse in East Brunswick. MCFOODS began back in 1994 in the closet of a park police building in Roosevelt Park, Edison.

“Since its inception 25 years ago, MCFOODS has grown to meet the needs of the community, distributing millions of pounds of food year after year and building relationships with community partners and pantries which allows for greater reach within the community,” County Commissioner Claribel Azcona-Barber, chair of the Community Services Committee said in a statement.

“REPLENISH, with its new name, continued mission and its move under community services will allow the organization to further build upon those relationships and answer the needs of our neighbors.”

The County’s food distribution organization provides nonperishable foods and necessities to a network of over 140 partner organizations throughout the 25 towns in Middlesex County.

During the COVID-19 pandemic REPLENISH collected and distributed 4,378,792 pounds of food to the Middlesex County community — a 93 percent increase over the previous year.

REPLENISH is hosting a series of food drives in honor of Hunger Action Month and to celebrate its new brand identity.

Here are the upcoming food drives:

• Labor Day Concert – September 5, 4 p.m., REPLENISH launch and food collection
  Roosevelt Park, the intersection of Grandview Ave and Pine Drive, Edison
• Paper Shred event – September 11 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Food collection South Brunswick Beech Woods Park, 137 Beekman Road, Monmouth Junction
• Food Drive – September 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick
• Food Drive in partnership with Stop & Shop – September 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at various Stop & Shop store locations:
  647 Route 18 South, East Brunswick
  24 Summerfield Boulevard, Dayton
  1049 US Highway 1 South, Edison
  1083 Inman Avenue, Edison
  424 Raritan Avenue, Highland Park
  1600 Perrineville Road, Monroe
  581 Stelton Road, Piscataway
• Food Drive in partnership with Shoprite – September 25, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  Shoprite, 4154 US 1, South Brunswick
• South Amboy Irish Festival – September 25 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  Food collection
  Raritan Bay Waterfront Park, 201 O'Leary Boulevard, South Amboy
• Paper Shred event – September 25, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  Food collection
  South Plainfield PAL Building/Recreation Center,
  1250 Maple Avenue, South Plainfield
• Food Drive – September 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  John W. Lupu Memorial Post 306, 707 Legion Place,
  Middlesex Borough

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