Women's group continues mission to serve Jackson
Food pantry provides supplies for 70 to 150 families each month
BY DAVE BENJAMIN
Staff Writer

Volunteers from the Jackson Women of Today work hard to keep the shelves of the Jackson food pantry stocked. The pantry provides food for between 70 and 150 Jackson families each month. The pantry is located in the township's old library.

JACKSON - While many people hear about food distribution for the hungry only during Thanksgiving and the holiday season, the effort to supply food to people in need is non-stop for the Jackson food pantry.

The pantry, which is operated by the Jackson Women of Today, distributes food and other necessary items throughout the year to residents who have registered for assistance.

"The Jackson Women have been doing this for over 20 years," said Vicky Vitale, food pantry director. "They established the pantry, and the mission of the pantry is to serve the Jackson community only."

Food to stock the pantry comes from two primary sources.

One is the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, Neptune.

"Food is purchased from the FoodBank using funds from community donations, fundraisers, and from soliciting," Vitale said. "It also comes from groups, foundations, organizations, and we write grant requests."

PHOTOS BY DAVE BENJAMIN

Food drives are also a big source of donations for the pantry.

"Without the community, the schools, the Scouts, the churches and other community groups, that's how we get the food," said Vitale. "We just had a food drive from St. Aloysius Church. In September, the schools will have drives right up to the holidays."

Vitale said that during the past few years, she and former director Elizabeth Stelevich built partnerships with several groups in the township, and the pantry expanded.

The pantry distributes food once a month to anyone in need in the community.

Hope Lewis, a volunteer from the Brandeis University National Women's Committee Chapter at the Four Seasons Metedeconk Lakes community, said, "The Jackson food pantry is run by the Jackson Women of Today. They are supported by other community groups and individuals who help with the monthly stocking of shelves and distribution of food."

The Jackson Women of Today have an agreement with the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties that allows the group to purchase food that is used to stock the food pantry. Food drives run by Jackson schools and organizations also help to keep the shelves of the food pantry full.

Lewis said the Brandeis University National Women's Committee has chosen the food pantry as one of its community service projects.

"We chose to do this in support of Vicki, the community we live in and the Jackson food pantry," Lewis said.

Vitale said the pantry serves between 70 and 150 families (about 400 people) each month. During the holiday season the pantry may serve more than 150 families.

"We also help in the community to assist other organizations in helping the needy," said the director. "During the holidays we also give out gifts to the families."

She said groups such as the MOMS Club of Jackson-West, the Optimist Club and the Jackson Air Force Junior ROTC, and residents at Winding Ways, Westlake and Four Seasons at Metedeconk Lakes help to support the pantry.

The Jackson Women of Today traces its community service to 1964 when the group was called the Jackson Jaycee-ettes. In 1983 the group became the Jaycee Women.

In 1985 the name was changed to the United States Women of Today and soon after to the Jackson Women of Today.

The food pantry started as a holiday food basket distribution in 1987. Entire families were fed and donations of food were stored in the garages of volunteers. Food was then delivered on a monthly basis, and in 1994 St. Thomas A.M.E. Church gave storage space in the attic of the parish hall.

By 1999 the number of families receiving food had increased from the original five to 50, which put a strain on the St. Thomas parish hall attic.

In March 2002 the Township Committee donated the former library on Don Connor Boulevard for use as a food pantry.