Across South Jersey, families of various sizes are gearing up to celebrate the approaching winter holidays. While some focus on elaborate food spreads, it's important to remember that numerous families rely on donations from pantries and food drives. In the lead-up to Thanksgiving, many organizations and nonprofits are working hard to assist those in need through meal distributions.

Holiday Meals in Camden

In Camden, the Salvation Army members are set to distribute more than 1,000 turkey meals in partnership with the Food Bank of South Jersey. Camden City has a poverty rate of over 31%, as per World Population Review. Kori Rife, the senior manager of marketing and communications for the Food Bank, emphasizes that the holiday season highlights the role of food in bringing families together but also amplifies the stress for those with limited budgets. The organization has witnessed a steady and significant need for food assistance this year, serving approximately 170,000 people each month.

On November 23, preregistered families at the Camden Kroc Center will receive these much-needed meals, showing the community's collective effort in addressing food insecurity.

These turkey meals are a crucial lifeline for many families in Camden during the holiday season.

Thanksgiving Meal Preparation in Vineland

At the Vineland Inspira Medical Center, 150 volunteers spent days before Thanksgiving preparing and packaging over 700 holiday meals. The food was purchased by the hospital and prepared by Morrison Healthcare suppliers. For three days, volunteers worked in shifts to ensure the meals were ready for distribution on Thanksgiving morning.

Approximately 1,000 pounds of turkey were used to make these meals, which would serve all donations, Vineland employees, and hospital patients. Julie Ellis, the senior vice president and chief human resources officer, is a repeat volunteer and feels lucky to be part of this tradition. It's important to her to give back during the holidays.

In the busy Vineland kitchen on November 25, teams of volunteers were cutting pie slices and scooping cranberry sauce into individual containers. The recipients are all connected to Inspira in some way, often patients. This allows the distribution team to cater to specific dietary needs, such as those of diabetic patients or those with allergies.

Food Insecurity in South Jersey

This year, the Food Bank of South Jersey distributed 30,000 turkeys for the holiday, which is 6,000 more than in 2023. The demand for hunger relief is on the rise, and the organization is on track to distribute 25 million pounds of food this year, a 3-million-pound increase from 2023.

As we head into the winter holidays, the need for nutritious staples and culturally relevant items remains high. In 2022, Feeding America reported a food insecurity rate of 10.7% in New Jersey. However, the number of people in need continues to grow each year.

Seniors on fixed incomes often face tough choices between food and medical expenses. Parents sacrifice their own meals to ensure their children have enough to eat. Recent veterans adjusting to civilian life might feel isolated while trying to make ends meet. These are just some of the ways food insecurity affects different groups in unique ways.

For information on how to help or find a food pantry near you, visit the Food Bank of South Jersey website at foodbanksj.org.