FirstEnergy Foundation awards $600K to New Jersey food banks, including in Somerset, Warren, Morris and Sussex counties
The FirstEnergy Foundation has awarded $600,000 in grants to 21 New Jersey food banks and pantries as part of its Hunger Action Month initiative, the organization announced this week.
The funding, distributed through Jersey Central Power & Light’s service area, is part of a larger $2.5 million investment across six states — New Jersey, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Virginia — marking the Foundation’s largest hunger-relief commitment to date. Officials said the grants will provide an estimated two million meals to families in need.
“The FirstEnergy Foundation is serving up can-do energy – collaborating with vital local organizations to reduce hunger and increase the availability of healthy, nutritious meals during Hunger Action Month,” said Doug Mokoid, FirstEnergy’s president of New Jersey. “Food means more than just nourishment – it’s a source of comfort that brings people together and strengthens bonds with a community. Our JCP&L employees are helping fight hunger year-round by volunteering and hosting food drives, reinforcing the importance of that connection.”
Food insecurity remains a pressing challenge in New Jersey, with more than one million people — about 11.7% of the state’s population — affected, according to Feeding America and the USDA. Rising food prices, supply chain disruptions, and climate-related challenges have all contributed to the crisis.
Among the local recipients:
- Catholic Charities’ Hope House (Dover, Morris County) – $15,000.
- Foodbank Network of Somerset County in Bound Brook — $25,000.
- NORWESCAP in Phillipsburg (Warren County) — $75,000.
- Interfaith Food Pantry Network in Morris Plains (Morris County) — $75,000.
- Spring Street Community Development in Morristown (Morris County) — $20,000.
- Project Self-Sufficiency in Newton (Sussex County) — $10,000.
Grants ranged from $2,500 to $75,000 statewide, benefitting food banks and community organizations across JCP&L’s service area.
In addition to financial support, FirstEnergy said it empowers employees with dedicated volunteer time-off hours to assist local nonprofits. Last year, employees contributed more than 26,000 hours to community causes such as food banks and pantries.
The Foundation and its employees have supported hunger-relief efforts for more than 20 years, raising nearly $7 million through its annual Harvest for Hunger campaign and donating $650,000 directly since 2021. In 2024, FirstEnergy Foundation contributed nearly $800,000 to hunger-related initiatives.
