Food Drive Challenges Township Corporate Offices, Businesses, Food Service Industry, Schools, Community Associations & Residents to Donate 214 Lbs. of Non-Perishable Food or $214.00 to Aid Food Pantries

Woodbridge – Mayor John E. McCormac today announced the kick-off of the 2021 “Have-A-Heart” Food Drive Challenge – sponsored by Sansone’s Route 1 Auto Mall Foundation, Woodbridge Metro Chamber of Commerce, RSI Bank, Northfield Bank, Chick-Fil-A, the Corner News Publication and Wegman’s.

The “Have-A-Heart” food drive challenges Township businesses, retail food service outlets, hospitality industry, corporate businesses and offices, community associations, schools and residents to donate 214 pounds of food or contribute $214.00 to assist Woodbridge food pantries continue their work providing food and meals to less fortunate residents and the homeless.  The 2021 “Have-A-Heart” food drive ends on Valentine’s Day – Feb. 14, (hence the 2/14 challenge.)

“The need for food in our community has more than doubled since the Coronavirus Pandemic hit. Our food pantries went from serving 600 families a month to now over 1,300 families. Nobody should ever have to go to bed hungry, so we make it our mission in Woodbridge Township to provide people with food and other necessities. Our residents and businesses continuously prove that they are willing to step up and collect food and monetary donations for those in need. The Have-A-Heart 214 Challenge has grown and now involves all facets of our community, making Woodbridge Township truly, the Best Town Around.” said Mayor McCormac.

Since 1995, the annual “Have-A-Heart” food drive – launched each January under the sponsorship of the Woodbridge Department of Health & Human Services and the We Feed Woodbridge Food Bank Committee – has become the most important community program undertaken throughout the entire year.  The “Have-A-Heart” food drive is coordinated by Peter Barcellona, Chairman of the We Feed Woodbridge Food Bank Committee.  All you need to do is give Peter a call at 732-855-0600 x5034 and tell him where and when to pick up a donation – 214 pounds of food or $214.00 – and volunteers will come directly to your location… it’s that easy!  Or, you can deliver 214 pounds of non-perishable food items to the Woodbridge Township Public Health Center (2 George Frederick Plaza) or the Woodbridge Community Center (600 Main Street) anytime between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM Monday thru Friday.  Financial contributions (payable to We Feed Woodbridge) can also be dropped-off at the Health Center or mailed directly to the Woodbridge Department of Health & Human Services, c/o We Feed Woodbridge, 2 George Frederick Plaza, Woodbridge, NJ 07095.

In 2020, We Feed Woodbridge collected over $300,000 in cash donations and more than 100,000 pounds of non-perishable food to support local food pantries – the amount of donations received this past year was overwhelming, but the need for donations is growing as the pandemic continues. Please give us a call today at 732-855-0600 x5034 if you are interested in donating!!  This will allow us to better assist our neighbors and friends in their time of need.

We Feed Woodbridge Food Pantries:

St. James Church, 174 Grove Street, Woodbridge – 732-636-4310

Trinity Episcopal Church, Trinity Lane, Woodbridge – 732-634-7422

First Congregational Church, Barron Ave., Woodbridge – 732-634-0582

First Presbyterian Church, 600 Rahway Avenue, Woodbridge – 732-634-1024

First Presbyterian Church, 1295 Oak Tree Rd, Iselin – 732-283-1188

First Presbyterian Church of Avenel, 621 E. Woodbridge Avenue, Avenel – 732-634-1631

St Cecelia Church, 45 Wilus Way, Iselin – 732-283-0150

Heavens Helper’s Pantry, 343 Pearl Street, Woodbridge – 732-742-8942

Metro Park Assembly of God, 48 Berkeley Blvd, Iselin – 732-710-3663

Fellowship Bible Church Food Pantry, 121 East Prospect Avenue, Woodbridge – 732-636-7727

St. Anthony of Padua Food Pantry, 436 Port Reading Avenue, Port Reading – 732-634-1403

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  Have-A-Heart Sponsors pictured above are:  (L/R):Peggy Foley (St. James Food Pantry), Karen Barnes (Woodbridge Metro Chamber of Commerce), Caroline Ehrlich (Chief of Staff), Nancy Drumm (Municipal Councilwoman), Paul Sansone (Sansone Foundation), Peter Barcellona (We Feed Woodbridge), Mayor John E. McCormac, Debbie Meehan (Municipal Councilwoman), Angie Tsirkas (Northfield Bank), Amy Krysienski (RSI Bank), Gregg Ficarra (Municipal Councilman), Marlon Terrell (Chick-Fil-A), Morgan Eger (Wegmans) and Pastor Leslie Samuel (Evangel Church)