Somerset County's Curbing Hunger campaign runs in June. Here's how to help

Mike Deak, MyCentralJersey.com
·2 min read

For almost three decades Somerset County residents have shown they care for their neighbors by donating 2.5 million pounds of food in the annual Curbing Hunger campaign held each June.

This year's campaign will kick off Tuesday at Curbing Hunger Night at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater during the game between the Somerset Patriots and the Portland Sea Dogs. Those attending the game can drop off canned goods at the entrance of the ballpark where Curbing Hunger representatives will collect the donations.

But county residents do not have to go to the game to contribute.

During June, county recycling workers will be tying orange plastic bags to the handle of residents' recycling bins. Residents can put canned food donations in the orange bags for pickup on the next recycling day through June 30.

Fill your orange bag with canned goods and place it next to your blue recycling bin at the curb on your recycling pickup days during the month of June.
Fill your orange bag with canned goods and place it next to your blue recycling bin at the curb on your recycling pickup days during the month of June.

Donations can also be made online.

“Donating online is a healthy alternative for people that don’t want to donate with their recycling. Just visit our website to select fresh fruits and vegetables, and the produce will be delivered directly to the Food Bank Network,” said Curbing Hunger Board President Chuck Knill. “We are grateful for any donations; whichever way people choose to donate.”

Monetary donations are also welcome. Checks made payable to Curbing Hunger may be sent to the organization at 140 S. Finley Ave., Basking Ridge, NJ 07920.

The Curbing Hunger drive is held in June because donations to the food bank traditionally slow during the summer.

“During the summer months food supplies are low because school lunch programs close and there are no holiday food drives. The county sponsors the food drive to help alleviate this shortage,” said Somerset County Commissioner Director Shanel Robinson. “We are extremely grateful for the generous residents who donate to the program.”

The Food Bank Network of Somerset County, serving more than 24,000 families each year, receives the donations and distributes the food to food bank clients and other local food pantries.

In 1995, Curbing Hunger began as a pilot program in Somerset County and since then has expanded to several other counties in New Jersey.

Curbing Hunger Month is made possible by the Somerset County Board of Commissioners, the Food Bank Network of Somerset County, Franklin Township Food Bank, Somerset County Public Works Department, TD Bank Ballpark and Curbing Hunger, Inc. Other supporters include the Crenel Family Foundation, MyCentralJersey.com and the Courier News, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church of Basking Ridge, Amp Your Good and #Give Healthy.

Email: mdeak@mycentraljersey.com

Mike Deak is a reporter for mycentraljersey.com. To get unlimited access to his articles on Somerset and Hunterdon counties, please subscribe or activate your digital account.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Somerset County NJ Curbing Hunger campaign begins June 1