Adopt-A-Family Program To Provide Thanksgiving Meals In Somerset County

There’s still time to donate to the Adopt-A-Family program that will help provide Thanksgiving meals for needy families in Somerset County.

“We often hear that people want to help others within their own community,” said Freeholder Patricia Walsh, who announced the fifth-annual program last month. “This is a perfect way for residents to earmark donations to help feed needy families in their own or neighboring towns.”

The estimated cost of a Thanksgiving meal is $40. Anyone wishing to donate may send a check to any of the following local programs:

• Food Bank Network of Somerset County, P.O. Box 149, Bound Brook, NJ 08805
• Franklin Township Food Bank, P.O. Box 333, Somerset, NJ 08875-0333
• Hillsborough Food Pantry, Attn: Social Services Department, 379 South Branch Road, Hillsborough, NJ 08844
• Reformed Church of Bound Brook, Main Street & Clinton Street, South Bound Brook, NJ 08880
• Samaritan Homeless Interim Program Inc. (SHIP), 87 E. High St., Somerville, NJ 08876

On the memo line of your check, write Adopt-A-Family and the name of the town where you wish your donation to go. If $40 is difficult for you, any amount will be gratefully accepted. The Food Bank Network and SHIP serve residents throughout Somerset County; the Franklin and Hillsborough programs primarily serve residents within those respective towns, while the Reformed Church serves both Bound Brook and South Bound Brook.

For more information, call the Food Bank Network at (732) 560-1813, the Franklin Township Food Bank at (732) 246-0009, the Hillsborough Social Services Department at (908) 369-3880, the Reformed Church of Bound Brook at (732) 356-9345 or SHIP at (908) 393-9545. Go tohttp://bit.ly/AdoptAFamily2014 to print the donation form.

The Adopt-A-Family program was created by Ray Walsh of Manville (no relation to Freeholder Walsh). “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,” Mr. Walsh said. “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.”

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