Mayor Bags Groceries To Fight Hunger

“Why is the mayor bagging my cat food?” 

Indeed, some shoppers at the Livingston ShopRite thought they were seeing things as Mayor Rudy Fernandez, Deputy Mayor Steve Santola, and Assemblywoman Mila Jasey were on hand to bag groceries as part of ShopRite’s Partners In Caring campaign to Help Bag Hunger in our community. 

It was all part of September’s National Hunger Action Month in which governors across six states, including New Jersey, issued proclamations declaring Sept. 21 as “ShopRite Partners In Caring Day.”  

Paul Barbato, assistant manager of , explained that each store works with the Community FoodBank of New Jersey in raising money to fight hunger. 

Since its founding in 1999, ShopRite Partners In Caring has donated $24 million to more than 1,700 charities, including emergency food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, child care centers, battered women's shelters, senior citizen programs, drug rehab centers, programs for the mentally and physically disabled, after-school programs and other organizations that aid those in need. 

“In September alone, this store has collected more than $10,000 to fight hunger,” Barbato said. 

In addition to raising money to fight a good cause, General Mills makes the incentive even sweeter for the stores. It matches money collected – and awards whichever ShopRite raises the most money by photographing the staff for the cover of a Cherrios box. 

“They make it a contest and it’s fun. They don’t do that for any other chain except ShopRite,” Barbato explained.   

The elected officials certainly did their part. As he industriously bagged groceries, Mayor Fernandez said “it’s important for people to understand that this is an ongoing problem right in our very own backyard.”

And with so many people out of work, many have to choose on a daily basis whether they pay the mortgage or eat, according to Wakefern representative Barry Jeckell.  

Some of the charities that benefit from ShopRite’s Partners In Caring include: Oheb Shalom Congregation Food Pantry in South Orange, A.L.C. Ministry in Newark, Christ Episcopal Church in East Orange, Health Incentive For Women in Irvington, and New Community Extended Care in Newark.

ShopRite of Livingston also donates food to charities on a weekly basis. Barbato said that three times each week, charities that are registered through the Community FoodBank come to pick up food from the store. 

So outside of making monetary donations, what can YOU do to fight hunger?  Here are a few suggestions courtesy of ShopRite’s Partners In Caring website:

Support local charities by contributing to their fundraisers, or help organize a fundraiser in your neighborhood or at work (where permitted). In addition to the money you can raise, talking to people you know about hunger helps raise awareness of the issue and involves them in the effort to address it.

• Contact your elected officials to find out what is being done about hunger and poverty in your community and encourage them to support policies that help the needy and the organizations and agencies that help them.

• Volunteer at a food bank or food pantry, soup kitchen or other charity, helping them to help others in your community. Invite your friends, family, co-workers, members of your religious congregation or clubs to which you belong, to join you.

• Talk to your children about the effects of hunger on other children in your community and encourage them to get involved. Volunteering together is a great way to teach them about the importance of helping others and can encourage them to remain involved in service as adults.

To find out where to volunteer, log onto the FoodBank of New Jersey’s website at http://www.njfoodbank.org/how-to-help/volunteer. 

“We can do something about hunger,” Fernandez said.