The Voorhees-Gibbsboro Lions Club is drawing attention to the reality that food insecurity extends well beyond the holiday season – and beyond Hunger Awareness Week, a national initiative held the week before Thanksgiving that focuses on easing poverty.
Organized nationwide by the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness, the observance includes food drives, fundraisers and community outreach efforts.
In that spirit, the Lions Club has expanded its holiday food drive, officially, through Friday. But anyone who would like to donate after that can email the club at voorheesgibbsborolionsclub@gmail.com. Donations of non-perishable food and essential hygiene products are being accepted at four locations: Voorhees Town Center, Sanremo Pizzeria and Ristorante in Gibbsboro, the Indian Cultural Center in Marlton and Oaks Integrated Care in Berlin.
“So many groups organize food drives around the holidays, but not as many after December,” said Mimi Hadi, secretary and founder of the Voorhees-Gibbsboro Lions Club. “Hunger doesn’t end after the holidays, so we thought doing a food drive in January made sense because it tends to be a slower time for food drives.”
All donations collected through the drive will be distributed through Hope Food Pantry to individuals and families throughout South Jersey. Items requested include canned soup, cereal and breakfast bars. Hygiene essentials such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant and feminine hygiene products are also requested.
Expired, opened, cooked or prepared foods are not eligible for donation.
“Anyone who needs basic food and hygiene products will benefit,” Hadi explained. And community involvement, she added, is at the heart of the drive’s success.
“Community support is crucial for this project,” she noted. “The donations from the community are what fuel this effort and ultimately make it a success.”
Looking ahead, the Lions Club plans to organize additional food drives throughout the year and is encouraging residents to get involved beyond donating. Hadi also emphasized the importance of supporting other organizations that combat hunger.
“We encourage people to donate to other local groups collecting food donations for those in need, whether it’s food pantries or nonprofits,” she stated. “Every donation matters.”
Hadi also reflected on the broader impact of hunger, noting that nearly one billion people worldwide experience food insecurity, while in some regions, one in nine households struggles with food access due to poverty.
“Addressing hunger isn’t just about numbers,” she pointed out. “It’s about basic human compassion. Being able to fully grasp how deeply hunger affects lives can be difficult if you haven’t faced it yourself.”
Residents are encouraged to share information about the food drive with friends and family to help maximize donations. Those interested in volunteering or learning more can contact the Voorhees-Gibbsboro Lions Club at voorheesgibbsborolionsclub@gmail.com.
Every donation counts.
