Food Bank Discusses Efforts To Help The Needy In Moorestown

Moorestown, NJ -- Food Bank of South Jersey CEO Val Traore recently discussed the organization’s programs that serve families, seniors and children with the Moorestown Rotary Breakfast Club.

He also spoke about their new Mobile Pantry and the Summer Food Service Program.

He said they have 250 food pantries set up in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Salem counties to provide healthy foods to families in need.

They also have a “Hope Mobile” that carries truckloads of food to “food deserts,” which are areas that lack access to a viable network of food sources and foods that comprise a well-balanced, nutrient- rich diet.

Potential families must bring a photo ID and proof of income to the Hope Mobile distribution to apply for the program.

For the fifth consecutive year, the Food Bank sponsored the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), from June 13-Sept. 2.

In 2015, they sponsored 45 sites and served over 91,000 meals to over 2,350 kids.

The program provides breakfast and lunch or lunch and afternoon snack for children at sites throughout the community, such as schools, summer programs, parks, swimming pools, churches, apartment complexes and anywhere children get together.

The meals are nutritionally balanced according to USDA guidelines and are provided at no charge to the sites and children.

The Food Bank of South Jersey’s core mission of feeding people includes their health as equally important as the food it distributes.

The Healthy Living Initiative (HLI) is their way to ensure that the people they serve have access to knowledge of healthy eating and cooking and how to best use the products that provided to improve their health and manage health concerns.

The attached image was provided by the Moorestown Rotary Breakfast Rotary Club: Pictured, left to right: Chris Vassallo, Rotary Secretary, Val Traore CEO Food Bank of South Jersey, & Jeff Dey Rotary President Elect.