Hard Times Continue for South Brunswick's Less Fortunate

The South Brunswick Food Pantry is still facing major difficulties as food supplies continue to be at an all time low. Social Services Director LouAnne Wolf is seeing about 18 families each week in need of assistance, as the less fortunate continue to struggle to make ends meet in the ongoing recession.

"We're incredibly low with just handfuls of food on our shelves," Wolf said. "For me to be seeing 17 to 18 families a week is just crazy. It's difficult to make sure we have enough food in their boxes when they come in. Once we get food in, it goes right back out. We just got a cart filled with boxes from the Brunswick Acres afterschool program, which is the biggest amount we've gotten in awhile, but it goes right back out."

Wolf said that items like pasta, which usually fills four to eight shelves in the pantry, is now down to one shelf. For the families in South Brunswick struggling to pay their bills, the food shortage arrives at an inopportune time.

"They're robbing Peter to pay Paul," she said. "They're paying what they can on their bills, but people are being shut off by PSE&G left and right. These families are getting by on a wing and a prayer. I'm seeing two to four new families each week, not just the same people."

With unemployment benefits running dry, Wolf said the desperation amongst the less fortunate continues to grow.

"There are no new jobs out there so I've been telling people to take whatever job they can get at this point," she said. "Some people want to hold out for a job that's somewhere close to what they were making before they were laid off, but they can't do that anymore. With unemployment running out, some are taking jobs at Toys-R-Us and Macy's, but that's just seasonal work."

With the holidays coming, Wolf is asking for any South Brunswick resident who can to donate food or money to help those in need.

On Nov. 5 and 6, the annual "Scouting for Food" program will be held by local Boy Scouts. Instead of previous years where the scouts left bags at residences throughout South Brunswick, the scouts will be collecting food at the Shop Rite in North Brunswick and the Stop&Shop on Route 27 in Franklin Park. The "Scouting for Food" drive will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For anyone who can donate a frozen turkey or ham, the in the will be open on Nov. 5 and 6 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Donations of gift cards from Stop&Shop or Shop Rite are also in need. Anyone who wants to participate in the annual Adopt-a-Family program for the holidays is also needed. 

For information on the Adopt-a-Family program or to donate food or money to the South Brunswick Food Pantry, call 732-329-4000 ext. 7674.

The food pantry is in desperate need of the following items:

• Stuffing 
• Canned sweet potatoes or yams 
• Boxed mashed potatoes 
• Rice 
• Boxed corn bread mix or corn muffin mix 
• Chicken broth 
• Cake mix 
• Icing
• Pie crust and filling
• Coffee and tea
• Juice boxes
• Bottled water
• Parmalot
• Canned pumpkin 
• Pancake mix and syrup
• Canned vegetables 
• Pasta and sauce
• Snack foods
• Tuna
• Canned meats (chicken, chili, etc.)
• Chef Boy-R-Dee canned pastas 
• Personal products (Shampoo, toothpaste, etc.)
• Toilet paper, paper towels, tissues