Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Food Insecurity topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Hudson County volunteers and staff warn of growing demand at food pantries as winter approaches
Summary
A county family-services worker and volunteer said food pantries have grown from serving about 300 families to nearly 1,000, and asked the county for support as donations and federal COVID-era funding wind down.
Khalila Daley, a Hudson County Department of Family Services employee and volunteer with Leaders Without Limits, described an escalating demand for food and basic supplies in Greenville and elsewhere in Hudson County. She said the pantry she helps run has grown from serving about 300 families to nearly 1,000 and that donations and available supplies have been depleted.
Daley described shortages of nonperishable food, infant formula, diapers, hygiene products, warm clothing and blankets as winter arrives. She asked the board for support and partnership, and county staff and commissioners discussed efforts to identify replacement funding sources as federal COVID-era support tapers.
County officials on the record said they are working with county executive staff and administration on plans to increase supply and target services for vulnerable groups (for example, by placing small pantries at dialysis centers to serve medically prescribed diets). A county representative cited roughly 93,000 individuals receiving food-stamp benefits (transcript figures provided at the meeting) and described the strain faced by pantries when partner distributions are reduced.
Next steps: Commissioners asked staff to keep them informed of needs and options; staff said they would coordinate with nonprofit partners and explore targeted distribution solutions.
