The Food Brigade is pleased to announce that we have been awarded a generous grant from the ACME Market Foundation through its Nourishing Neighbors Summer Meals Program, part of their Community Relief Initiative. Thank you, ACME Markets, for helping us feed our children this summer. We're honored to be part of the Nourishing Neighbors family!
On Friday, June 25, 2021, The Food Brigade delivered 100 meals to the Norwood Food Pantry donated by Sweetgreen in Hackensack, courtesy of Table to Table and their new food rescue app. Pictured from left to right: Karen DeMarco, President of The Food Brigade; Joanne Scalpello, Director of the Norwood Food Pantry; and Rev. James V. Petroccione of the Church of the Holy Communion in Norwood.
The Food Brigade was recently mentioned in the July issue of BERGEN Magazine. Thank you, BERGEN Magazine, for helping to spread the word about our efforts on behalf of the food insecure in Bergen County.
The Food Brigade recently received a generous grant from First Commerce Bank. They also organized a food drive at their Closter branch to help stock the shelves of our pantry, with their "Shred Hunger" paper shredding event. First Commerce Bank also has local branches in Englewood, Montvale, and Teaneck. Thank you, First Commerce Bank, for supporting our efforts to help the food insecure in northern New Jersey!
The Food Brigade will be a panelist at the NEW JERSEY HUNGER SUMMIT, hosted by NJCU, on Tuesday, May 18, 2021. We are honored to have been invited to represent our region in this important statewide symposium on food insecurity. We will be presenting at 11:00 for the "Innovation and Sustainability" session, and then sharing info & answering questions at 12:00 for the breakout roundtable discussions. Featured panelists include Craig Caughlin, Speaker of the NJ Assembly; Carlos Rodriguez, President & CEO of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey; and Adele LaTourette, Director of Hunger Free New Jersey.
The Food Brigade has received a generous grant from Visions Federal Credit Union. Thank you, Visions FCU, for supporting our efforts to help the food insecure in northern New Jersey!
The Food Brigade recently awarded a Certificate of Appreciation to Nancy and Bob Meyer, for their generous $5,000.00 donation (in addition to their volunteer efforts on our behalf). Thank you, Nancy & Bob, for your support, which makes our hunger relief work possible! Pictured, left to right: Karen DeMarco, Food Brigade President; Nancy and Bob Meyer.
The Food Brigade in the news: https://patch.com/new-jersey/newmilford-nj/bergen-nonprofit-offers-free-prepackaged-meals-those-need.
Excerpt: "It's a win-win situation," said Karen DeMarco, President and Co-Founder of The Food Brigade. "Local restaurants that have been struggling due to the economic fallout of the COVID-19 shutdown will be able to get an influx of cash, to help keep their businesses afloat. And families and individuals who have been dealing with food insecurity will be able to receive delicious restaurant-prepared meals for free."
On Wednesday, March 3, 2021, The Food Brigade shared some of our resources with a fellow hunger relief charity, the Hope & Love Food Pantry of Christ Episcopal Church in Teaneck. The donation consisted of 120 jars of Rao's pasta sauce, a case of tomatoes, a case of mushrooms, a case of peppers, and packages of English muffins. We also donated PPE, including 250 adult disposable face masks, 250 children's disposable face masks, and 50 protective face shields.
Thank you to Rev. Michelle White, Johanna Keyser, and the rest of the wonderful volunteers at Christ Episcopal Church for the amazing work you do in supporting the people of Teaneck and the surrounding area. (Pictured: Rev. Michelle White, Pastor of Christ Episcopal Church; Karen DeMarco, President of The Food Brigade Inc.)
On Thursday, February 25, 2021, The Food Brigade reached a major milestone in our hunger relief efforts: 1,034,802 pounds of food distributed (517 tons) to those in need in northern New Jersey and southern New York State over the past 5 months. While not an event to be celebrated, this million-pound milestone is a sobering indicator of the extent of the need that continues to exist during this pandemic. Thank you to all of our donors, volunteers, and distribution partners who have supported our mission since its humble beginnings last spring.
On Thursday, February 18 and Friday, February 19, The Food Brigade distributed 44,640 pounds of food, plus 816 gallons of milk and 153 half-gallons of chocolate milk, through our network of Distribution Partners. Thank you to our volunteers and to our Distribution Partners for braving the storm to help feed the food insecure in northern New Jersey and southern New York.
Our recipients included: Dumont Social Services & Food Pantry in Dumont, NJ; the Bergenfield NJ Food Pantry; the Center for Hope and Safety shelter for women and children and its safe houses; Christ Episcopal Church in Teaneck, NJ; the Father English Community Center food pantry in Paterson, NJ; the Tenafly Senior Center in Tenafly, NJ; American Eagle Food Pantry of Northern New Jersey in Lodi, NJ; Strangers Helping Strangers in Garfield, NJ; Families for Families in Wyckoff, NJ; Tri-Arc Community Development Corp. in Hackensack, NJ & Teaneck, NJ; St Andrew's Church in Westwood, NJ; Calvary United Methodist Church in Dumont, NJ; Spring Valley United Methodist Church in Spring Valley, NY; Grace and Truth Community Church in Dumont, NJ; First United Methodist Church in Ridgefield Park, NJ; and Built Together in Christ Church in Dumont, NJ.
VIDEO: https://fb.watch/8m2Mi-3zRN/
For more information, plus photos from the day's operations, please visit https://www.facebook.com/foodbrigadeUSA/posts/227435119089910.
On Wednesday & Thursday, January 27 & 28, 2021, The Food Brigade distributed 74,700 pounds of food, plus 1,430 gallons of milk and 408 half-gallons of chocolate milk, to food-insecure families in Northern New Jersey and Southeastern New York.
Our recipients included:
Our delivery drivers traveled to 17 different towns in 3 counties to bring food to those in need who lacked transportation to get to our distribution sites.
For more information, plus photos from the day's operations, please visit https://www.facebook.com/foodbrigadeUSA/posts/214452997054789.
On Wednesday & Thursday, January 20 & 21, 2021, The Food Brigade distributed 70,200 pounds of food, plus 1,614 gallons of milk, to food-insecure families in Northern New Jersey and Southeastern New York.
Our recipients included:
For more information, plus photos from the day's operations, please visit https://www.facebook.com/foodbrigadeUSA/posts/209788040854618.
On Friday, January 22, 2021, The Food Brigade provided meat, cheese, and milk for distribution to Dumont residents in need through the Dumont Social Services & Food Pantry. The delivery included:
On Wednesday & Thursday, January 13 & 14, 2021, The Food Brigade distributed 72,450 pounds of food, plus 1,420 gallons of milk and 234 half-gallons of chocolate milk, to food-insecure families in Northern New Jersey and Southeastern New York.
Our recipients included:
For more information, plus photos from the day's operations, please visit https://www.facebook.com/foodbrigadeUSA/posts/205118067988282.
On Wednesday, January 6, 2021, The Food Brigade distributed 67,275 pounds of food, plus 1,204 gallons of milk and 228 half-gallons of chocolate milk, to food-insecure families in Northern New Jersey and Southeastern New York.
Our recipients included:
For more information, plus photos from the day's operations, please visit https://www.facebook.com/foodbrigadeUSA/posts/200503698449719.
On December 15, 2020, The Food Brigade distributed brand-new children & adult winter coats to Dumont Social Services & Food Pantry and Calvary United Methodist Church in Dumont for local families in need. Thank you again to Bergen Volunteer Center for the donation!
Karen DeMarco of The Food Brigade (left) receives a donation of beautiful hand-crocheted items from Little Ferry resident Angela Leenig, for distribution to the needy during the holiday season. The items included baby blankets, scarves, shawls, head bands, and more.
On Thursday, December 10, 2020, Bergen Volunteers donated 50 brand-new winter coats (children and adult sizes) to The Food Brigade, which will be distributing the coats to needy families for Christmas. (Pictured, l-r: Debbie Emery, Manager of Community & Civic Engagement of Bergen Volunteers; Karen DeMarco, President of The Food Brigade Inc.)
On November 23, 2020, The Food Brigade was the subject of a photojournalism essay by NorthJersey.com / The Record, in connection with the Brigade's distribution of free food boxes to the families of children in the Dumont school system.
Click here to view the images: Food distribution for Dumont school children.
Late Friday afternoon on November 20, 2020, The Food Brigade learned that the Dumont School District had informed parents that the district was discontinuing its free lunch program for Dumont's school children for a period of two weeks while the schools were closed due to COVID. The Food Brigade immediately sprang into action to fill the void and make sure that every child attending the Dumont public schools would still receive a free lunch during that period.
On Monday, November 23, we held a drive-through food distribution operation at Calvary United Methodist Church, providing boxes of food to over 300 families of Dumont school children.
For more information, plus photos from the day's operations, please visit https://www.facebook.com/foodbrigadeUSA/posts/165851098581646.
