County Drive Helps Local Food Pantry

The Hillsborough Food Pantry makes a point of supporting needy families during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays and bolstered its efforts with $1,690 received from the Somerset County Freeholder's Adopt-a Family Program.

"It basically went into our general program," Hillsborough Social Services Director Tamas Ormosi said.  "We provide for 108 to 110 families. That money goes into providing some of the funds for some of the foods we purchase and other items."

"It's part of what we do," he added. "It blended well with what we were already doing."

In addition to food and gift cards to food stores, the Hillsborough Food Pantry provides home items, like laundry detergent or dish detergent, personal care items, including soap and deodorant, and gift cards to area retailers, like Kohl's or Walmart, Ormosi added.

About 74 people donated to the Adopt-A-Family program, including $700 in donations from Wells Fargo employees, according to a release from the Somerset Country Freeholders.

Created in 2009 by Manville resident Ray Walsh, the Adopt-a-Family program provides holiday meals, specifically Thanksgiving dinners, to needy families throughout Somerset County.  Several Somerset County Social Services Organizations, including the Samaritan Homeless Interim Program, the Somerset County Food Bank, and the Hillsborough Food Pantry participate in the program.

The program began in response to the ongoing recession and asks for donations to cover the cost of a holiday dinner. The estimated cost for a holiday dinner for a family of four is $40, though the program accepts donations of any amount, the freeholders said.

"Our local food banks have seen a tremendous increase in the number of people seeking help during the past few years due to the recession," Walsh said in a statement released from the freeholders. "The goal of the Adopt-A-Family program is to make Somerset County the first in New Jersey to feed all of its needy residents."

In Hillsborough, the number of families tends to fluctuate, but has been rising since the recession began, Ormosi said.

"For us, we have a very good group of people who donate to us on a regular basis, so we have more for people who come to us for help," Ormosi said.  "It does get difficult for us during the summer because people don't think about us as much."

Though Hillsborough Food Pantry will have its Christmas pick up today, donations of food or money are still being accepted.  Checks and other donations can be submitted directly to the Hillsborough Food Pantry, which is located in the Hillsborough Municipal Building.

Items that are particularly needed include laundry or dish detergent and personal care items, according to Ormosi.