THE FOOD BANK NETWORK OF SOMERSET

THE ORGANIZATON OPERATES DAILY AND WEEKLY FOOD PANTRIES IN BRIDGEWATER, BOUND BROOK, SOMERVILLE, MANVILLE, NORTH PLAINFIELD AND THE VA IN LYONS(ALL IN SOMEREST COUNTY, NEW JERSEY). THE ORGANIZATION MEETS EMERGENCY FOOD NEEDS ON A DAILY BASIS FOR PEOPLE REFERRED BY SOCIAL AGENCIES AND RESPONDS TO FAMILY NEEDS DURING NATURAL EMERGENCIES, SUCH AS FLOODING, FIRE AND THE 2020 PANDEMIC. IN ADDITION, THE ORGANIZATION DISTRIBUTES USDA GOVERNMENT SURPLUS FOOD WHEN AVAILABLE, PURCHASES SPECIAL DIETARY FOOD FOR PEOPLE WITH HEALTH PROBLEMS WHO ARE WITHOUT FUNDS. THOSE WHO RECEIVE FOOD INCLUDE SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES, LOW INCOME FAMILIES, LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYED OR UNDER EMPLOYED PERSONS, SENIOR CITIZENS WITH INADEQUATE FIXED INCOMES, AND PEOPLE WITH A GENUINE NEED THAT FALL BETWEEN THE CRACKS OF EXISTING PUBLIC PROGRAMS.