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In response to the economic crisis, Jewish Federation of Greater Middlesex County and Jewish Family and Vocational Services of Greater Middlesex County announced its partnership with several other faith-based and social service agencies March 17 to raise awareness about the growing need for food for Middlesex County families.

The federation and JFVS are joined by Catholic Charities Diocese of Metuchen, Presbyterian Church of Jamesburg, Islamic Society of Central Jersey, Middlesex County Food Organizations and Outreach Distribution Services (MCFOODS), United Way of Central Jersey, and the New Jersey State Association of Jewish Federations in the collection and distribution of non-perishable food items in time for the Easter and Passover holidays.

According to Jack Goldberg of JFVS, demand for non-perishable food items has increased an average of 35 percent at food banks across the county in the first two months of 2009.

"The idea of working within the community is local," Goldberg said. "This is the person next to you in the supermarket. This is the person behind you in line getting gas. We are doing our best to make sure that nobody in the county is going to have hunger and nowhere to go."

Rev. Gary Filson from the Presbyterian Church of Jamesburg said that the previous week brought 10 new families to the church's food bank. The 30-by-50 foot pantry, Filson said, is now "obsolete."

"Five years ago, we were helping about 20 families on a monthly basis," Filson said. "In September [2008], we were up to 60. Now, this month, we're up to 120 families on a monthly basis just in our area. This morning, we were signing up two more families. We're in an economic time where people are underemployed, unemployed, and where people are having financial difficulties. One of the most basic things that they can't do is put food on their tables. Coming together as a coalition to make our state and our communities aware of the problem is a very important thing."

Gabriela Sadote-Sleppin of the federation explained that there are three parts to the new campaign: to raise awareness of the food bank's plight, to capitalize on existing resources, and create a tangible outcome to replenish Middlesex County food banks.

"While this is the first shot, we really want to bulk up our efforts," Sadote-Sleppin said. "We need to advocate with our local officials and be very vocal within our awareness campaign and legislation for programming and funding. There is federal funding that trickles down from state to local [levels]; we need to work together as a team to access that and distribute that. In a time of critical economic crisis, I think that we all need to put our shoulders to that plow, because hunger transcends the boundary lines of religion, ethnicity, and economics."

Federation President Lee Livingston highlighted the crucial role of Middlesex County residents.

"There is a critical need due to the economic crisis and the impact on the ability of people to provide food for their families," Livingston said. "This all falls right in with what the Jewish Federation of Middlesex County is about. We're committed to the quality of life for all Jewish people and for all people, both locally, nationally, and worldwide."

Marianne Majewski, executive director of Catholic Charities Diocese of Metuchen, believes that the interfaith coalition will help raise awareness of the food pantry shortage.

"It's our hope to help raise consciousness regarding the need in our county and make an appeal for the community to come together and help alleviate the problems," Majewski said. "The program will not only fill the shelves of our food pantries; it will also give hope to those in need by seeing that their neighbors are willing to help."

Middlesex County Freeholder Blanquita Valenti spoke as the liaison to MCFOODS, the county's emergency food network, which assists in collecting and distributing food for the needy. Around 60 food pantries, soup kitchens, and various other agencies benefit from this effort. Valenti expressed her support for the new coalition March 17.

"I think this coalition to combat poverty and hunger is a great initiative," Valenti said. "It's well timed and certainly needed very badly in our county. There's so much poverty and hunger out there. It has reached gigantic proportions. This is a great way to do something together."

MCFOODS is currently running a food drive in 162 Middlesex County schools. Valenti said this drive brought in 51 tons of food in 2008, and she is hoping to exceed that this year. The Spring School Food Drive will add to the pantry that the new coalition will be taking from.

"We reach a wide variety of people throughout the county that are in need, including low income families and homeless people," Valenti said. "We have people from different housing authorities and schools who come because they know of families who are destitute."

Christina Zuk spoke on behalf of state Sen. Barbara Buono (D-18), who expressed her support for the new coalition.

"Sen. Buono asked me to express her gratitude and support for this important initiative," Zuk said. "As New Jersey continues to work through these trying economic times, it is imperative that we work together to ensure that our families, friends, and neighbors have access to life's basic necessities, especially nourishment."

Bill Dennison, major markets director of United Way of Central Jersey, spoke with Target of Milltown executive Patricia Marambio about the importance of donating to needy families.

"In our small community, we do things like national night out, we do baby bundles, we do back-to-school supply collections, and we also do employee contribution," Marambio said about Target's efforts. "As a company last year, we donated $13 million to United Way. Community giving is very important as to what makes us a good employer and a community partner."

"I want to make it clear that none of us alone can solve this problem," Dennison said. "We have to work together. That's what United Way does. We work with government and corporations and individuals and non-profits. These problems are complex. We have to bring together an integrated, multi-faceted solution."

Middlesex County food pantries are asking for canned meats and stews, pasta, canned milk, tuna fish, cereal, rice, canned fruits and vegetables, peanut butter and jelly, toothpaste, shampoo, and baby items. They also accept grocery store gift certificates.