Asbury Park Kiwanis will give out boxes of food to those in need March 13 at the Jersey Shore Arts Center in Ocean Grove.
Asbury Park Kiwanis is aiming to feed food insecure families in the Asbury Park community this March with its newest community service project. The organization, chartered in October 2020, is continuing to raise funds to feed the community with its #FeedAP campaign – monies raised pay for 35 to 40-pound boxes of food filled with various food items, including non perishable and perishable goods.
According to FeedingAmerica.org, an estimated 1 in 9 Americans are food insecure, equating to over 37 million Americans, including more than 11 million children. The USDA defines food insecurity as a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life.
“Asbury’s poverty rate is about 28 percent,” said Sarah Bloom of Kiwanis. “That number doesn’t include the hardships people continue to face due to the Covid-19 outbreak.. It’s devastating. And in piggybacking off neighboring New Jersey Kiwanis clubs, our #FeedAP campaign will help those going through hardships at only $8 a box – unbelievable.”
You can donate to the campaign by texting #FeedAP to 732-217-4490 or by visiting https://asbury-park-kiwanis.snwbll.com/feedap-2.
“It is important to know that though hunger and food insecurity are closely related, they are distinct concepts. Hunger refers to a personal, physical sensation of discomfort, while food insecurity refers to a lack of available financial resources for food at the household level,” according to FeedingAmerica.org.
The boxes come from Blessings of Hope – a Pennsylvania-based organization that has worked with other Kiwanis clubs in New Jersey. Each box costs roughly $8 with shipping, and contains 35-40 pounds of donated food collected by Blessings of Hope. The items may include nonperishable and perishable items.
“Given the many obstacles we are all facing individually, this is one where we say that we will face food insecurity collectively, as a community,” John Hall, APK treasurer, said. “There’s enough to worry about, but where a family is going to get their next meal shouldn’t be one of them.”
“It is amazing to see the Asbury Park community come together in a time of need. Asbury Park should be proud for rising to the occasion to #FeedAP during a global pandemic,” Lt. Gov-Elect [Division 5] and Club Secretary Martin Slezak, explained. “We look forward to continuing to serve our community on the move forward and we thank all who have donated and supported this initiative.”
The boxes are delivered the morning of the event, and will be available March 13 when APK will hand out the boxes to pre registered families from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Jersey Shore Arts Center located at 66 South Main Street in Ocean Grove. Due to limited quantities, families are limited to one box. If you or anyone you know is in need of food, you can register by visiting https://asbury-park-kiwanis.snwbll.com/ticketing/feedap-3.
“The overwhelming amount of support we’ve gotten so far speaks volumes for the people in this community,” Bloom said said. “I am so proud of the members of this club, all of which have bent over backwards to do the little things to keep us going full speed.”
