CNBNews

Source-Kaitlyn McCormick
Around South Jersey, families of all sizes are preparing to celebrate the upcoming winter holidays.

For many, this means elaborate spreads of foods and desserts. But, as anyone working to help solve issues of food insecurity will tell you, numerous families in South Jersey communities depend on donations from pantries, food drives and seasonal food initiatives.

In the days leading up to Thanksgiving, members of many organizations and nonprofits prepared to assist those in need this season through meal distributions.

In Camden, the Salvation Army members readied to hand out more than 1,000 turkey meals in partnership with the Food Bank of South Jersey to preregistered families at the Camden Kroc Center on Nov. 23.

According to World Population Review, Camden City has a poverty rate of more than 31%.

"The holiday season highlights the role of food in bringing families and communities together, but it also amplifies the stress for many individuals facing already stretched budgets," said Kori Rife, senior manager of marketing and communications for the Food Bank of South Jersey.

The organization has seen a "steady and significant need for food assistance" this year, Rife said. She estimated that they serve approximately 170,000 people each month.

At the Vineland Inspira Medical Center, 150 volunteers spent the days leading up to Thanksgiving preparing and packaging more than 700 holiday meals.

The food was purchased by the hospital for the annual donation event, said David Mills, senior director of food and nutrition services with Morrison Healthcare, a supplier of the hospital. For three days volunteers were scheduled in shifts to prepare the meals prior to distribution on Thanksgiving morning.

"Ready to work, smiling (and) happy to do it," Mills said.

Approximately 1,000 pounds of turkey were prepared for meals that would service all donations, Vineland employees and hospital patients, he added.

Julie Ellis, senior vice president and chief human resources officer, is a repeat volunteer for the hospital network's Thanksgiving tradition.

"I feel really lucky. ... It's really important to me," she said, taking a short break from packaging food.

In the bustling Vineland kitchen on Nov. 25, teams of volunteers cut pie slices and scooped cranberry sauce into individual containers.

The recipients, Mills said, are all connected to Inspira in some way, many of them patients.

Because of this, distribution team members are able to cater to specific dietary needs, such as those of diabetic patients or individuals with allergies.

"We're in health care because we do care about people," said Joanna Galletta, a senior executive nursing administrator who has been involved with the holiday tradition for the past decade. She noted that more people are using food pantries and related services.

"This is a way we can assist them at least one day," Galletta said.

"Food insecurity doesn't pause after Thanksgiving," she added.

The organization is on track to distribute 25 million pounds of food this year, Rife said. This would be a 3-million pound increase from 2023.

"As we head into the winter holidays, demand for nutritious staples and culturally relevant items remains high," Rife said.

In 2022, Feeding America graphed the food insecurity rate in New Jersey at 10.7%.

But, as Rife pointed out, the number of people in need continues to grow each year.

"Food insecurity is deeply personal and affects different groups in unique ways," she said. "Seniors on fixed incomes are often forced to choose between food and medical expenses. Parents sacrifice their own meals to ensure their children have enough to eat.

"Recent veterans, adjusting to civilian life, might feel isolated while trying to make ends meet."

For information on how to help, or to find a food pantry near you, visit the Food Bank of South Jersey website at foodbanksj.org.