For Immediate Release:

April 16, 2013  

 

County food drive enters home stretch

More than 2.5 tons of food have been collected so far 

 

FREEHOLD, NJ – With less than two weeks to go, residents have donated more than 2.5 tons of food to the Food Drive of Monmouth County, which is being conducted throughout the month of April.

 

Donations are filling the shelves at the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties. The Board of Chosen Freeholders has chosen the food drive as a way to celebrate National County Government Month.

 

“We would like to thank our generous residents who have donated to this worthy cause,” Freeholder John P. Curley said. “The people in need of these donations may not be who we traditionally consider to be the poor. They could be our neighbors who have fallen on hard times and need some assistance providing for their families. This food drive has less than two weeks left, but I urge everyone to continue to donate throughout the year, because the demand on the FoodBank is significant.”

 

The main collection points are 11 of the county library branches, including the Eastern Branch in Shrewsbury and the Library Headquarters in Manalapan. As an incentive, the libraries are offering to erase fines for overdue materials in exchange for donations of food. Collection bins are also at the Belford Ferry Terminal, Thompson Park Visitor Center in Lincroft, Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center in Howell, the county Hall of Records in Freehold Borough and the Agriculture and Human Services buildings in Freehold Township.

 

Non-perishable, protein-rich foods such as peanut butter, granola bars and tuna fish are examples of items suitable for donation.

 

The branches of the Monmouth County Library System participating in the month-long “Food for Fines” program are: Headquarters in Manalapan, Eastern Branch in Shrewsbury, Atlantic Highlands, Colts Neck, Hazlet, Howell, Marlboro, Ocean Township, Oceanport, Wall and West Long Branch.

 

 “As the main collection points, our county libraries have been very busy collecting the food for the food drive,” said Freeholder Lillian G. Burry, liaison to the Library System. “I commend the County staff for helping out with this worthwhile cause.” 

 

The drive works this way: patrons who have outstanding materials will bring their food to the library counter. The libraries will reduce the fines by $1 for every food item donated. Separate bins have been placed in the libraries for people who do not have fines but want to donate food anyway.

 

Curley reminds residents that they don’t have to owe a library fine to participate in the food drive.

 

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