Fulfill awards $271,000 in pandemic relief grants to its 51 participating food pantries

In a struggling economy during the Covid-19 pandemic, several groups and organizations are in need of financial help in a number of ways.

Fulfill has awarded $271,000 in Pandemic Relief Grants to its 51 participating food pantries and other feeding agencies across Monmouth and Ocean Counties, the non-profit announced on Friday morning.

The grants will increase the capacity of food pantries and soup kitchens to serve more people through the COVID-19 crisis and beyond.

“To help meet the exorbitant demand for food as many of our neighbors at the Jersey Shore struggle with unemployment and hard times, grant recipients will be able to expand hours and days of service. It is imperative that food pantries stay open and distribute food in local communities, so our neighbors won’t go to bed hungry,” Fulfill CEO and President Kim Guadagno, said in the announcement.

Feeding agencies within the Fulfill network were able to apply for up to $10,000 in grant money, Guadagno said, and they could request items including freezers, coolers, shelving and funding for food and other maintenance items.

“The Executive Committee of Fulfill voted unanimously to provide the funds necessary for these food pantries in our distribution network to continue to operate in the face of the unprecedented need for food and stretch their capabilities. We are here to feed our hungry neighbors, and these grants will help us expand our services,” Fulfill Chairman of the Board Jeremy Grunin, said.

Fulfill said that they will purchase all appliances and equipment and feeding agencies will receive checks for the balance of their awards.

Here are the Fulfill members receiving an FPRG:

• Allentown Food Pantry - Allentown
• Bethel Pantry – Asbury Park
• BPC Food Pantry – Red Bank
• Bradley Food Pantry – Bradley Beach
• By Faith Ministries Church of God - Lakewood
• Calico Cat Food Pantry - Middletown
• Christ Church Food Pantry - Howell
• Destiny Community Food Pantry - Brick
• Eatontown Food Pantry - Eatontown
• Faith Chapel Pantry – Union Beach
• First Assembly of God Toms River – Toms River
• Forest Glen - Lakewood
• FPC Food Pantry - Neptune
• Greater Emanuel Temple - Neptune
• Greater Tuckerton Food Pantry - Tuckerton
• Howell Food Pantry - Howell
• Island Heights Pantry – Island Heights
• Jackson Women of Today - Jackson
• Jersey Shore Dream Center – Asbury Park
• Jewish Family Services – Asbury Park
• Ken's Kitchen - Manahawkin
• Lutheran Atonement Food Pantry – Asbury Park
• Matawan United Methodist Food Pantry - Matawan
• Meal at Noon – Long Branch
• New Hope Foundation - Marlboro
• Ocean’s Family Success Center – Asbury Park
• Ocean's Harbor House – Toms River
• Osbornville Pantry - Brick
• Osbornville Soup Kitchen - Brick
• Park Plaza Apartments Pantry – Little Egg Harbor
• PCTR - The Hope Center – Toms River
• Rising Treetops at Oakhurst - Oakhurst
• SBH Food Pantry - Oakhurst
• Second Baptist Church of Asbury Park Food Pantry – Asbury Park
• Second Baptist Church of Toms River Food Pantry – Toms River
• Shore Vineyard – South Toms River
• Simon's Soup Kitchen – Seaside Heights
• St. Augustine's Soup Kitchen – Asbury Park
• St. Brigid's Pantry & Soup Kitchen – Long Branch
• St. Crispin Food Pantry – Red Bank
• St. Francis Food Pantry – Beach Haven
• St. Mary of the Lake - Lakewood
• St. Mary's Food Pantry - Barnegat
• St. Paul's Food Pantry - Brick
• St. Paul's Food Pantry - Ocean Grove
• St. Paul's Lutheran Food Pantry - Beachwood
• St. Peter Claver Pantry – Asbury Park
• St. Pius Food Pantry – Forked River
• Trinity Pantry & Soup Kitchen – Asbury Park
• Whiting Food Pantry - Whiting
• Zichron Shneur Food Pantry - Lakewood

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