WHAT: Increased food insecurity and the inability to conduct annual food drives due to COVID-19 has left supplies low at MCFOODS (Middlesex County Food Organization and Outreach Distribution Services) and local food pantries. To continue to aid families in need, MCFOODS has partnered with Simon Malls at Menlo Park Mall to help restock shelves at the East Brunswick distribution warehouse. On June 6, MCFOODS will be collecting items from members of the community through a food-drive at the mall.

WHEN: Saturday, June 6 from 12 to 4 pm

WHERE: Menlo Park Mall
55 Parsonage Road
Edison, NJ 08837

HOW: On June 6, those wishing to donate items may drive up to the MCFOODS trucks and bins in the parking lot of the mall. One of the MCFOODS volunteers will take the items from the individual’s trunk or back seat and transport the items to the trucks. No contact is required, and the individual should not exit the vehicle. Some of the most needed non-perishable foods and necessities include rice, tuna fish, peanut butter, vegetables, canned meats, beans, soups, and pasta, as well as personal products, baby items and paper towels.

As always, monetary donations to Feeding Middlesex County are welcomed and can be made at the Feeding Middlesex County website.

WHY: According to Jennifer Apostol, Director of MCFOODS, compared to 2019, the distribution center saw a 79 percent increase in the amount of food distributed in March, and a 100 percent increase in April. Additionally, MCFOODS reported a 39 percent increase in the number of pantries accessing the distribution center compared to this time last year.

In addition to the increased need, due to the Stay At Home order and the State’s shutdown of many businesses and services, MCFOODS has been unable to collect donations as it has done in the past. This includes MCFOODS’ largest annual collection event, the Spring School Food Drive, which typically results in the collection of about 50 tons of food for families in need.

All local pantries are seeing a sharp increase in need. To accommodate everyone during the pandemic, operations have changed or been streamlined, including offering drive-thru or walkup service or eliminating most paperwork. MCFOODS’ directory of food pantries is now being regularly updated on our County website, to reflect these accommodations and changes in service.

About MCFOODS

Beginning in the closet of a park police building in Roosevelt Park in Edison in 1994, MCFOODS has since expanded into a 5,000 square foot warehouse in East Brunswick. MCFOODS provides nonperishable foods and necessities to our network of over 120 partner organizations throughout the 25 towns in Middlesex County to ensure that all residents always have access to nutritionally adequate food and necessities. In the early years, MCFOODS received and distributed 92,000 pounds of nonperishable foods and necessities to about 30 partner agencies. In 2019, MCFOODS received and distributed over 2.2 million pounds of food including fresh produce, dairy, and meat products to over 130 partners. A database of agencies that can provide emergency food can be found at this link