Ceremony Honoring Hoboken Food Pantry Founder Set For Thursday

HOBOKEN, NJ — Nearly two months after Hoboken Food Pantry founder Toni Tomarazzo was honored as the recipient of the New Jersey State Governor’s Jefferson Award, local officials will recognize the community leader in a ceremony. On Thursday.

The Hoboken Food Pantry opened in 2019 to assist residents in the Hoboken Community Center’s Single Room Occupancy affordable housing program. But when the coronavirus pandemic began last year, the pantry bolstered its operations to feed anyone in the community in need.

In less than two years, more than 350 community volunteers have worked 2,310 hours, and 1,300 partners and donors have supported the food pantry. With their help, the organization has provided 18,445 bags to those in need. It also expanded its offerings to provide 100 families with non-food items such as diapers, toiletries and cleaning products biweekly.

Tomarazzo was honored with the Jefferson Award in September and received an award that recognizes measurable community impact and represent outstanding acts of public service. Recipients demonstrate unique vision, dedication and tenacity of heroic proportion and serve as inspiration for others.

Thursday’s event will be held from 4:30-5:30 p.m. at the Hoboken Food Pantry, which is located at 1301 Washington St.

Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, City Councilwomen Jen Giattino and Tiffanie Fisher along wit Hoboken Community Center Board President Kenneth Nilsen and Hoboken Food Pantry Director of Operations Chesleigh Meade are scheduled to participate in the event to honor Tomarazzo.