Edison Housing Helps Families For Thanksgiving, As Requests Grow

EDISON, NJ — Since the pandemic began, Deborah Hurley, the executive director of Edison Housing Authority, has seen a drastic increase in the number of families seeking food assistance.

With the state under the grip of COVID-19, the demand at food pantries has soared, said Hurley. “We have a food pantry that runs every third Thursday of the month. On average, we have around 100 families that come out to avail the program,” she said.

The coming Holidays has only added to the stress of food insecurity, said Hurley. To help Section 8 and Public Housing families in town, the Edison Housing Authority (EHA) recently gave out 250 frozen turkeys, chicken and dry foods.

“It takes a village to do what we do at the Edison Housing Authority. We are grateful for the generous support we have received from Edison Township and surrounding organizations that band together to ensure our families did not go without,” Hurley told Patch.

“Stop & shop and ShopRite gave us a donation and helped us with the pricing,” she said.

The Thanksgiving distribution event was indeed a community effort. The Edison New Jersey Fire Fighters IAFF Local 1197 provided EHA with $500 worth of gift certificate to Stop & Stop.

The Community Oriented Policing Unit led by Chief Thomas Bryan and Deputy Chief Howard Askelson with assigned personnel Sgt. Ship, Officer Iorio, and Officer Dong, provided turkeys and dry good for families.

Regina Arnold, Principal, Martin Luther King Elementary School, donated turkeys and made a monetary donation of $400 to EHA.

Meanwhile, New Life Ministries gave out $50 gift certificate to about 20 families so they could shop for their Thanksgiving needs from Walmart.

“I also want to thank Jay Elliot, Director, Health and Human Services; The Robert E. Holmes Gardens, The Board of Commissioners of the Edison Housing Authority and Council President Joyce Ship-Freeman,” said Hurley.

In Edison, a number of organizations are helping families by providing them with food. “Most of our families are low income. We look out for them and try to help out in whatever way we can,” she said.

The coming months are going to especially difficult. Hurley said they accepting donations and gift certificates to help those in need.

“We will continue to accept donations for the upcoming Christmas Holiday Season. We accept gift certificates that are given to our senior residents and toys for our children aged 2- to 13-year-old,” she said.

If you wish to make a donation, please contact Deborah Hurley, Executive Director, or Michelle Thorne, Director of Property Management at 908.561.2525 or email to coordinate efforts to Dhurley@edisonha.org.

This story is part of Patch's Headlining Hope series, which profiles local nonprofits and charitable organizations in need of volunteers and resources. If you know of a local organization that should be profiled, contact sarah.salvadore@patch.com.

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