Food Pantry In Montclair Gets Fishy Donation To Fight Hunger

MONTCLAIR, NJ — What does two tons of porgy look like? The answer to that question recently helped to put a dent in the food insecurity that many New Jersey residents are struggling with – while also supporting the state’s fishing industry, according to Community Offshore Wind.

The offshore wind developer recently gave away more than 4,000 pounds of porgy and 3,600 cans of clam chowder sourced from local seafood processors to community organizations across the state.

Donations included aid to the food pantry at Grace Pointe Seventh Day Adventist Church in Montclair. Other donations were made to Replenish Food Bank in East Brunswick, Fulfill in Neptune, Lunch Break and the Vin Gopal Civic Association in Tinton Falls.

Community Offshore Wind said it purchased the donated porgy and clam chowder, both of which are Marine Stewardship Council-certified from New Jersey-based suppliers.

Porgy is one of the most plentiful and sustainably-harvested species found along the East Coast, and the clam chowder uses Atlantic surf clams harvested primarily by fishing vessels from New Jersey.

Last summer, Community Offshore Wind donated more than 60,000 meals of fresh, local seafood to 10 New Jersey hunger relief organizations in partnership with the Mend Hunger Relief Network and local fisheries.

Approximately one in nine people in New Jersey face food insecurity.

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