Food Collection Bags Being Distributed For ‘Curbing Hunger Month’

Look for the “Curbing Hunger” bags that will be tied to your recycling bins. Photo: Somerset County.

Submitted by Somerset County Public Information.

Somerset County recycling crews are delivering colorful collection bags now for the annual Curbing Hunger Month food drive in June. If your container is at the curb on your recycling pickup day between May 15 and 26, you’ll receive two bags.

“But don’t worry if you don’t get one of the orange bags,” said Freeholder Director Peter S. Palmer. “You can still make a curbside donation of canned food using any plastic grocery bag – just write the word ‘FOOD’ on it and put it out at the curb on one of your recycling days in June.”

Food supplies are traditionally low during the summer months, when school lunch programs close and there are no holiday food drives. That’s why the Curbing Hunger food drive is held in June to help alleviate this annual shortage. Donations are distributed to the Food Bank Network of Somerset County and to local food pantries, including the Franklin Food Bank.

The demand at local food banks and food pantries continues to exceed supplies on a regular basis. You can help by filling your orange bags – or any plastic grocery bag – with canned goods and placing them at the curb on your recycling pickup days from June 5 through 30.

This is the 23rd annual Curbing Hunger food drive. You also can make an online donation – including fresh produce – at http://bit.ly/CurbHunger2017 And this year you can join the conversation on social media by following #GiveHealthy.

Sponsors of the 2017 Curbing Hunger program include the Board of Chosen Freeholders; Curbing Hunger Inc.; and the Courier News and MyCentralJersey.com. St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Basking Ridge is a founding sponsor. Curbside collection of the food donations is done by county recycling crews and county and municipal public works employees.

If you miss either of the Curbing Hunger Month recycling days, curbside donations are collected year-round as well. Use one of the orange bags or any plastic grocery bag to place canned food at the curb on any of your recycling collection days throughout the year.

Donations of non-perishable food also are accepted at the First Saturday of the Month recycling drop-offs held at the Somerset County Recycling Center at 40 Polhemus Lane in Bridgewater.

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