| 09/22/2008 - Essex County Food Stamp Outreach Initiative |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Anthony Puglisi Lauren Shears ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO JOINS WITH THE NJ DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, SHOPRITE, NJ ANTI-HUNGER COALITION, THE COMMUNITY FOODBANK AND THE COUNTY WELFARE DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION OF NJ ON FOOD STAMP OUTREACH INITIATIVE Unique Partnership to Raise Awareness about Hunger Issues and Connect Eligible Clients with Much-Needed Services West Orange, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. joined with Governor Jon Corzine, ShopRite supermarkets, the New Jersey Anti-Hunger Coalition, the County Welfare Directors Association of New Jersey and the Community FoodBank of New Jersey on Monday, September 22nd to kick off a unique community outreach program to enroll eligible families in the Food Stamp program. September has been designated as Hunger Action Month, and the public-private partnership will raise awareness about hunger issues facing New Jersey as well as help connect eligible clients with much needed services. “Many of our residents are feeling the pinch of rising costs and may not be aware they are eligible for food stamp assistance. Poverty and hunger are growing issues that government cannot address by itself. This coalition is an example of how the public, private and non-profit sectors can share resources and work together to benefit our residents,” DiVincenzo said. “We are the only county in New Jersey that has a Mobile Citizen Services Office. It has enhanced our outreach throughout the County and has helped connect people with valuable services. We are happy to share this resource and loan our mobile office to other counties for their outreach programs. This partnership will bring services to people who really need it,” he added. “Many New Jerseyans have jobs, struggle to put food on the table and don’t know that they may be eligible for Food Stamps. Reaching out to those working families and senior citizens who may not know about this program has been a major priority for us,” said James Smith, NJ Department of Human Services Deputy Commissioner. “When resources are tight for government and tight for families, cooperative, creative efforts such as this one maximize the assets of county and state government, the private sector and the advocacy community to benefit our common customer: the New Jersey resident,” he added. “ShopRite has always been at the forefront of fighting hunger in our communities and has worked with hunger-fighting charities for nearly three decades,” said Karen Meleta, ShopRite spokeswoman. “Today, we are so proud to partner with our public officials in bringing the food stamp information directly to our customers who may not be aware that they qualify. We understand the needs of our customers and are mindful of the economic challenging times they are facing,” she added. “When times are rough and resources are limited, public/private partnerships can be the most effective way to tackle problems,” said Kathleen DiChiara, Executive Director of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, which provides over 23 million pounds of groceries each year to non-profit agencies serving halfa-million people in need. “Many of the people who rely on emergency pantries when they have no money left after paying the rent or medical bills could find they meet the income guidelines for Food Stamps, Home Energy Assistance, or a number of other programs to help meet their basic needs. This mobile office is a wonderful resource, and we’re grateful to Essex County for sharing it with other parts of the state,” she added. “It’s exactly this kind of innovative thinking and these kind of partnerships that will bring people the information and access they need to more easily participate in New Jersey’s food stamp program,” said Adele H. LaTourette, Director of the Statewide Emergency Food and Anti-Hunger Network and Coconvener of the New Jersey Anti-Hunger Coalition. “Essex County is to be commended for sharing their mobile van – the only one in the state – with other counties. We hope this will provide the incentive for other counties to follow the lead of Essex County and replicate this model program,” she added. “Our mobile office has been effective in helping us reach different segments of our population and heighten awareness about available social service programs, including Food Stamps,” said Essex County Division of Welfare Director Bruce Nigro, who also serves as President of the County Welfare Directors Association of New Jersey. “This coalition of government, the private sector and social service agencies is an unprecedented example of everyone coming together to address a growing problem throughout our communities,” he added. Essex County will dispatch its Mobile Citizen Services Office to various ShopRite supermarket locations throughout Northern and Central New Jersey. Staff from the host county’s welfare office will work from the mobile office and assist clients in applying for Food Stamps and other social services for which they may be eligible. ShopRite will publicize the Food Stamp program in its stores and alert shoppers about when the mobile van will be visiting the local area. The state-of-the-art vehicle is about the size of a bus and is outfitted with a waiting room and three private offices so clients can be served in a confidential and professional manner. The mobile office is equipped with a wireless internet connection and a fax machine so applications can be processed on site. It also is wheelchair accessible and has air conditioning. Essex County purchased the mobile office in 2006 with grant funds from the Federal government to raise awareness about the Food Stamp program. Since its inception, over 250 visits have been made and about 3,000 families and individuals served. The van has visited community-based organizations, churches, supermarkets, shopping centers, health fairs, senior buildings, senior centers, food pantries and other community events. For more information about Food Stamps, you can go to www.njfoodstamps.com or call 1-800-687-9512. You can apply for Food Stamps online or at your county welfare agency. You can also prescreen to see if you are likely to be eligible for Food Stamps as well as many other social service programs at www.NJhelps.org. About ShopRite # # # |