Food Pantry in 'Sad State' as Thanksgiving Approaches

With Thanksgiving just a couple of weeks away, the South Brunswick Food Pantry is in desperate need of help from the community to give the township's less fortunate a happy holiday.

Rising need, along with a shortage of donations, has left the pantry with depleted supplies as the holiday approaches. From January through August this year, Social Services saw 553 families, compared to 455 families who came in for aid during the same time frame last year. October brought an all-time high of 102 families.

The increase has left the pantry with depleted shelves during one of the busiest times of the year as hundreds of families come in seeking aid.

"I foresee lots more needed," said Social Services Director LouAnne Wolf. "At this point, we have 211 families and individuals signed up for the program and more comes in daily."

Wolf said the department is in a "sad state" after having gone through all of their shopping market gift cards, plus there were only three turkeys donated for the holiday. After only 50 Thanksgiving food boxes were distributed, the pantry has already run out of several needed items.

"We also need $10 or $20 Stop and Shop or ShopRite gift cards so families can purchase a turkey or ham," she added.

The pantry is in need of the following foods:

• Coffee

• Jelly

• Cranberry sauce

• Stuffing

• Canned pumpkin

• Pancake mix and syrup 

• Hearty soups such as Progresso and Chunky soups

• Parmalot/boxed milk

• Chef Boyardee canned pastas

• Peanut butter

• Canned corn

• Mashed potatoes

• Canned sweet potatoes/yams

• Chicken broth

• Turkey gravy

• Dried soups