With the 20th annual Curbing Hunger Food Drive getting underway in the county next month, orange “Curb Hunger” bags are being distributed via recycling containers.
The bags are being delivered by county recycling crews, according to a release about the program. Each household will receive two bags.
The drive, which runs from June 2-27, will benefit organizations that help Somerset County’s hungry.
“Somerset County has been proud to collaborate with Curbing Hunger Inc. to conduct this annual food drive that benefits so many people in our communities,” Freeholder Director Patrick Scaglione said in the release. “On behalf of the Freeholder Board, I want to thank Curbing Hunger Inc., St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and the many other community supporters of this very successful program, as well as our recycling and public works crews who do the curbside food collections each June.”
Food supplies are traditionally low during the summer months, when school lunch programs close and there are no holiday food drives, according to the release. Donations are distributed to the Food Bank Network of Somerset County and to local food pantries, including the Franklin Township Food Bank.
Sponsors of the 2014 Curbing Hunger program include the Board of Freeholders, Curbing Hunger Inc., the Courier News and MyCentralJersey.com and the Bridgewater law firm of Norris, McLaughlin & Marcus. Curbside collection of the food donations is done by county recycling crews and county and municipal public works employees.
Curbside donations now are being collected year-round, the release said. One of the orange bags or any plastic grocery bag an be used to place canned food at the curb on any recycling collection day 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