‘No one should be going hungry in our country’

Across the nation, the Nov. 1 cuts to SNAP benefits resulting from the shutdown of the federal government have increased the need for food pantries to provide for those experiencing food insecurity.

Camden County is no different, with the board of commissioners holding an emergency food distribution event at Camden County Community College on Nov. 12, assisting SNAP recipients, as well as federal workers who had to either stop working, or if considered essential, work for over a month without a paycheck.

Approximately 75,000 county residents receive SNAP to help them afford food, with about half of all recipients being children and another third having a disability. 

Though the government reopened on Nov. 12, the impact of the delayed pay and SNAP benefits was still felt by many.

“The billions in SNAP that was held up can’t be replaced by the few million we’ve put in it,” said New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn.

“… People should continue to donate to our food banks, our pantries, our soup kitchens, and everybody who helps feed the hungry, because it is an unending need, particularly in these times of higher cost for everyone.”

In order to receive the emergency food donations, participants were required to provide proof of residence in Camden County and show either their SNAP benefits card or their federal employee ID.

Food was provided by the Food Bank of South Jersey and Farmers Against Hunger, with all recipients receiving a bag of produce and a care box of nonperishable food and ingredients that would be able to create a full meal, including rice, canned vegetables, pasta, peanut butter, cereal and applesauce.

Apples, oranges, peppers and sweet corn were provided to families, with all of the produce except the oranges being locally grown in South Jersey. 

Linda Palmquist was one of the Food Bank of South Jersey volunteers present for packaging and handing out the donations.

“Volunteering today was very easy,” Palmquist noted. “It was very organized…

“It’s ridiculous that we should have hungry people in this country, ever.” 

Volunteers gathered from 1 to 3 p.m. to begin packaging the produce into fabric bags and piling the bags onto pallets next to the pallets of care boxes, allowing for an organized distribution of the supplies.

Camden County Community College dietary technician student Whitney Robinson was another volunteer, who felt compelled to help during her free time.

“No one should be going hungry in our country, especially since we have a surplus,” she said. “… There’s a big disparity between children and the elderly. Everyone, in general, just needs to have nutritious food.”

The event was conducted in a drive-thru only format, with recipients being required to be in a car to receive the food on a first-come, first served basis.

Public officials from the county, state and local levels, as well as leaders from the Food Bank of South Jersey and the New Jersey Agricultural Society were all in attendance, joining food bank volunteers in handing out the donations.

Officials also emphasised that with most New Jersey schools being closed the first week of November, food insecure students were even more vulnerable, and they commended the efforts of local school districts in combating hunger.

“They cared enough to bring their staff in and to make sure that no student was hungry last week,” said Camden County commissioner Virginia Betteridge.

As families drove up in two lines on either side of the pallets of food, volunteers and officials opened the trunk or backseat of each vehicle.

Distribution of the supplies began at 3 p.m. and lasted until 5 p.m., with all of the supplies going to those in need throughout the county.