NJ credit unions collect over 10,000 pounds of food and more than $10K in statewide holiday drive
BASKING RIDGE, NJ (Somerset County) – First Harvest Credit Union (“First Harvest”), Affinity Federal Credit Union (“Affinity”), EdiFi Credit Union (“EdiFi”), and 27 participating New Jersey credit unions shared the results of the New Jersey Credit Unions Food Cooperative.
The program, created to help address the growing hunger crisis in New Jersey, collected and donated a collective $10,670 and 10,299 pounds of essential food items to support 47 food pantries and organizations throughout the state.
All participating credit unions and their designated branches served as collection locations in October and November, providing broader geographic coverage across New Jersey. Each credit union branch directly supported a food pantry or organization within the community it serves. Some of these organizations include Interfaith Food Pantry, Salvation Army, Food Bank of Somerset County, and Community Food Bank of NJ.
Participating credit unions include: Affinity Federal Credit Union (Co-Sponsor), EdiFi Credit Union (Co-Sponsor), First Harvest Credit Union (Co-Sponsor), 1166 Federal Credit Union, Atlantic City Electric Company Employees Federal Credit Union, Bay Atlantic Federal Credit Union, Bridgeton Onized Federal Credit Union, County Excellence Federal Credit Union, Credit Union of New Jersey, A Federal Credit Union, Deepwater Industries Federal Credit Union, Garden Savings Federal Credit Union, Greater Alliance Federal Credit Union, Jersey Central Federal Credit Union, Jersey Shore Federal Credit Union, Manville Area Federal Credit Union, Members 1st of NJ Federal Credit Union, Merck Employees Federal Credit Union, Messiah Baptist Church Federal Credit Union, Motion Federal Credit Union, Picatinny Federal Credit Union, Princeton Federal Credit Union, Ridgedale Federal Credit Union, Rutgers Federal Credit Union, The Atlantic Federal Credit Union, Thunderbolt Area Federal Credit Union, United Poles Federal Credit Union, and United Teletech Financial Federal Credit Union.
“The state of New Jersey’s food insecurity crisis affects at least 1 in 10 residents, and the need for food donations and support continues to grow year over year. As credit unions, it is our inherent mission to come together and foster opportunities to serve the underserved throughout our entire New Jersey community. This food initiative demonstrates that credit unions coming together creates a ripple effect of support that leaves a lasting impression. It is a privilege to partner with the amazing New Jersey credit union leaders in this meaningful human-driven mission.” said First Harvest President & CEO Mike Dinneen.
“With food insecurity on the rise throughout the state, we felt a call to action to support communities with limited access to healthy and affordable food sources. The credit union difference is about people helping people, and New Jersey credit unions coming together for initiatives like this demonstrates the cooperative spirit of working with our members and local communities. We thank our partners at First Harvest and EdiFi, as well as all the participating credit unions, for their unwavering support and efforts ahead of the holiday season,” said Affinity Federal Credit Union President & CEO Kevin Brauer.
“We’re seeing the stress that the increased cost of food and necessities is having on our local communities. This effort to help those in need is perfectly consistent with the mission of the credit union movement to lift up individuals and families. It’s great to see so many of our credit union colleagues collaborating together towards this initiative.” said EdiFi Credit Union President & CEO Jill Peterson.
For the full list of benefitting food organizations, please visit njfoodcooperative.com.
