September is designated Hunger Action Month by Feeding America, a nationwide awareness campaign, designed to mobilize the public to take action on the issue.
The glamor of the Jon Bon Jovi press conference now a memory, organizers of the B.E.A.T. (Bringing Everyone All Together) Center begin turning it into reality. Once there, they say, a major part of their ongoing function will be to help drop-ins overcome food insecurity - something many never experienced until Superstorm Sandy.
Earlier today, a press conference was held in the Silverton section of Toms River to announce the teaming up of Jon Bon Jovi's "JBJ Soul Foundation", The Foodbank of Monmouth & Ocean Counties, and The Peoples Pantry to announce "The B.E.A.T. Center".
Staffers at Community Medical Center in Toms River mark an unprecedented level of donations in their annual Healthcare Harvest food drive, amassing 107,046 pounds of nourishment for the needy in Ocean County. That's nearly 55 tons.
It's not so much the massive relief agencies but the small nonprofit and faith-based groups that have been quick to respond to the needs of their storm-ravaged communities.
A total of 7 tons of nonperishable food is projected to come in as part of Monmouth County's month long food collection drive that ends today according to Executive Director Carlos Rodriguez of the Foodbank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties.
The Foodbank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties gets a new Executive Director. Carlos Rodriguez takes the helm of the nonprofit organization that distributes food to over 250 community partners.