West Orange Cops, Ex-NFL Player Pitch In For Food Pantry

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of a Patch West Orange community member. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site.

Officer Jason Padilla and Detective Lawrence Dominguez of the West Orange Police Benevolent Organization teamed with former Giants Football player Christian Peter to distribute 150 hot meals at the Holy Trinity-West Orange Food Pantry on Jan. 4.

Peter, part of NFL Alumni Association, explained the connection that led to the Jan. 3 event.

“My friend Ken DeRoberts started Soup Kitchen 411 as a way to give back to the community and the issue of food insecurity, especially during the pandemic,” he began.

“With funding from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), De Roberts was able to expand operations and utilize approved restaurants to prepare the meals for distribution. This helps the restaurants as well as the recipients of those meals,” he explained.

Peter was able to recruit local NFL retirees to help with the distribution of the meals and add an element of celebrity to the events. Soup Kitchen 411 reached out to the NJPBA and State Trooper’s Associations to partner in the distribution of meals throughout the state, and the response was positive.

West Orange PBA President Lawrence Dominguez and Officer Jason Padilla contacted Cynthia Cumming, Administrator of the Holy Trinity-West Orange Food Pantry, to arrange a distribution on Jan. 4. The meals were prepared by McGovern’s Restaurant in Newark.

“We have a long-standing relationship with the WOPD and PBA,” noted Cumming.

“They have helped us with food drives, pantry organization and distribution, and our monthly food pickups at the Community Food Bank in Hillside. They are part of our family here.”

The event was such a success that an even larger distribution is being planned for March.

“We are always looking for new ways to provide food, toiletries, clothing, coats, diapers, and anything else we can to West Orange and nearby communities. We were thrilled to work with the WOPBA, NFL Alumni Association, and Soup Kitchen 411 to provide some restaurant-fresh hot meals to our clients.”

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