Camden County Delivers More Than 26K Meals To Seniors In Need

CAMDEN COUNTY, NJ — More than 26,000 meals have been delivered to seniors since the Camden County Division of Senior and Disabled Services expanded its meal delivery program in response to the outbreak of new coronavirus, officials announced on Wednesday.

As many as 4,000 meals have been delivered in a single day. In total, more than 1,500 individual seniors have received nutritious meals as they navigate the unprecedented crisis represented by coronavirus.

Roughly two thirds of meal recipients since March 18 are seniors who previously were not part of the home delivered meal program, according to officials. As of March 30, meals have been delivered to seniors in 33 municipalities.

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“The Department of Health made a promise at the onset of this crisis that no senior would go hungry because they couldn’t get to the grocery store, or because they’re income was affected. That promise has been kept,” Camden County Freeholder Jonathan Young said. “Again, I want to highlight the team of public servants who have stepped up to ensure our most vulnerable population is safe. These men and women have on seen their workload increase, as they are now delivering as many as 2,000 meals per day and counting. This is an unprecedented challenge, and they are meeting the moment with heart and compassion, as well as hard work and determination.”

The Division of Senior and Disabled Services is delivering meals to new program participants. Anyone who knows a senior in need of meal assistance should call 856-374-MEAL or 856-858-3220 to make arrangements.

Officials also recommend supporting local food pantries and organizations.

“We have already received reports from food banks in the area working at 200 percent of their normal operations, and we anticipate that their client-base will only grow as the economic fallout from coronavirus deepens,” Camden County Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli, Jr. said. “If you are able and interested, please consider donating to one of the organizations in our community which are working tirelessly to ensure that no one in Camden County goes hungry during this crisis.”

Food Bank of South Jersey

The Food Bank of South Jersey is accepting cash donations at foodbanksj.org which will be used to purchase food and distribute it to local pantries. Food donations are best made to your local pantry, a list of which is available at www.foodbanksj.org.

If you are seeking services, please visit www.foodbanksj.org to find your local pantry and their hours. When visiting your local pantry, please remember to appropriately social distance, stand six feet apart, and wear face covers.

Cathedral Kitchen

Cathedral Kitchen in Camden City is also accepting financial donations of any size to support its operations while revenue is limited. If you’d like to donate, please visit https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/donatetoCK. If you are interested in donating food, please contact Alex Wills at alex@cathedralkitchen.org to make arrangements.

For those in need, Cathedral Kitchen is offering to-go meals which are distributed Monday to Friday from 3:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., at 514 Federal Street in Camden City. Visitors should wear masks and practice social distancing in line.

Touch New Jersey

Touch New Jersey also provides food support for the homeless and food insecure. They are asking anyone interested in helping to support their mission during this crisis to reach out to them via their Facebook page to see how you can help.

If you are need of resources, Touch New Jersey distributes food Monday to Friday at 549 State Street in Camden City starting at 10 a.m. and while supplies last. Visitors are asked to wear masks and practice social distancing while in line.

The many agencies supporting the homeless right now are facing the challenge of a lifetime during this pandemic. To learn how you can help, visit https://camdencounty.com/heartsandhands.

See related: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know