From Mayor Paul Vagianos
As we all know, the federal government is currently in a shutdown. And while we all may have an opinion about its cause, what truly matters right now is the impact on the 263 Ridgewood families whose SNAP* benefits will be ending on October 31. These families - our neighbors and friends - may not be able to put food on their tables on Saturday.
The Village of Ridgewood, in partnership with the Social Service Association of Ridgewood and Vicinity, the Ridgewood YMCA, the Ridgewood Board of Education and the Ridgewood Interfaith Council, is organizing an emergency food drive to help our residents through this crisis.
We need all hands on deck. If you have enough to eat, please help those who do not. Together, we can make sure no one in Ridgewood goes hungry.
Below is a list of the most-needed items (please, no open or expired items) along with drop-off locations in the Village.
MOST-NEEDED ITEMS
- Jarred pasta sauce
- Breakfast items (hot and cold cereal, oatmeal, pancake mix and syrup, breakfast bars)
- Rice
- Hearty canned soups and canned pasta (Chef Boyardee)
- Condiments and cooking oil
- Canned protein (tuna, chicken, ham, Spam)
- Personal care and household cleaning products
- Fresh produce
DROP-OFF LOCATIONS
- Village Hall (feel free to drop off on weekends)
- Ridgewood Public Library (feel free to drop off on weekends - Saturday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Sunday 1:00 to 5:00 pm)
- Ridgewood YMCA
- St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church
- First Presbyterian Church
- Temple Israel
- Emmanuel Church
- Unitarian Society
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel
- ALL Ridgewood Public Schools
PLEASE, this is how we come together as one community to ensure that nobody goes hungry during this food emergency.
There’s an old saying: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Let’s go far together, Ridgewood.
From the bottom of my heart - thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!
* New Jersey's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides food assistance to families with low incomes to help them buy groceries through a benefits card that is accepted in most food retail stores.
