Thousands of Pounds of Food Collected For Woodbridge Food Drive

More than 22,000 pounds of food and more than $27,500 in donations were collected as part of the Woodbridge Township’s Have a Heart Food Drive.

Over 100 township businesses, schools, charitable organizations, and residents contributed to the 2015 “Have-A-Heart” food drive, according to an announcement from the township.

“The ‘Have-A-Heart’ food drive is one of the most important programs that we as a community participate in each January and February. I am proud to be part of the effort to extend the generosity of the holiday season and to replenish and restock Township food banks,” Mayor John E. McCormac said in a prepared statement. “Hunger knows no season and no boundary. It’s crucial that we work every day – not just during the holiday season – to collect food as we work to help provide the necessities of life to our neighbors and families who might otherwise go hungry.”

According to the news release from the township:

The food drive began in 1995 and works to restock local food pantries.

Third-graders from the Robert Mascenik School #26 in the Iselin section of town collected more than 200 pounds of foods, including canned goods, boxed foods, baby food and paper products. That student food drive was coordinated by Principal Judith Dudash and teachers Lora Bucior, Melissa Finnarty and Leslie Cardello.

Other significant contributions to the food drive were made by the Colonia Business Community and Colonia Corner, Wegmans of Woodbridge, Woodbridge ShopRite, Northfield Bank, RSI Bank, and Woodbridge Center Mall.

Food will be distributed at the following pantries, which serve about 700 needy families each month:

Heavens Helper’s Pantry, 343 Pearl Street, Woodbridge

First Presbyterian Church, 20 Middlesex Avenue, Iselin

Trinity Episcopal Church, Trinity Lane, Woodbridge

Metro Park Assembly of God, 48 Berkeley Blvd., Iselin

First Presbyterian Church, 600 Rahway Avenue, Woodbridge

St. James Roman Catholic Church, 174 Grove Street, Woodbridge

First Presbyterian Church of Avenel, 621 E. Woodbridge Avenue

First Congregational Church-Women of Faith, Barron Avenue, Woodbridge

St. Cecelia Roman Catholic Church, 45 Wilus Way, Iselin

Elijah’s Bread Food Pantry, Ridgedale and E. Prospect Avenues, Woodbridge

First Baptist Church of Woodbridge, 130 Sewaren Avenue, Sewaren

Photos courtesy of Woodbridge Township

Photos: Mayor John E. McCormac meets with students at the Robert Mascenik School #26 in the Iselin section of town. The students collected donations for the township’s Have A Heart Food Drive.