Companies Encouraged to Organize Summer Food Drives for Children

Thousands of children from needy Bergen County families receive lunch during the school year through subsidized school meal programs.  When schools close for summer vacation, these meals are not available, and low-income families often have to make the choice between paying rent or buying food.

To address this critical need, the Northern New Jersey Business Volunteer Council (BVC) is coordinating a summer food drive.  Companies are invited to host food drives from May to July to help low-income families; employee volunteers in participating companies collect “kid-friendly,” non-perishable breakfast and lunch food items. 

The food collected during this initiative, entitled Brown Bag Buddies, will be delivered to the Center for Food Action and other local food pantries during the months of June, July and August.

A free information kit that describes the program and provides “how-to” instructions on running an employee food drive is available from the BVC, and can be obtained by calling 201-489-9454 Ext. 114, or email ttomasi@bergenvolunteers.org.

Since 2000, the Brown Bag Buddies initiative has distributed more than $326,000 worth of food and grocery gift cards.  The goal for 2011 is 10,000 pounds of food.  The sponsors for this year’s drive are United Water, BD, Rockland Electric and Sealed Air.

“We’re asking all companies in northern New Jersey to encourage their employees to participate in this summer food drive,” says Tess Tomasi, BVC Coordinator at the Volunteer Center of Bergen County. “Remember, hunger never takes a vacation.”

For more information about Brown Bag Buddies or other BVC programs, visit us online at www.nnjbvc.org, or contact us at (201) 489-9454, Ext. 114 or ttomasi@bergenvolunteers.org.