Turkey swap aims to feed the hungry
BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer

HOWELL - With help from Mulligan's Bar and Grill, Squankum Road, and the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, 7,000 turkeys will be distributed for Thanksgiving.

Mulligan's has teamed up with several local supermarkets and is helping to run its first Turkey Swap now through Nov. 17 to help the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties meet the need for food this holiday season.

According to Mulligan's Assistant Manager Maria Conrow, Acme of Freehold Township, Shop-n-Bag of Farmingdale, and ShopRite of Freehold Township are giving away a free turkey or a free ham to their customers.

The customers can exchange their turkey or ham at the store's customer service counter for a $15 gift card. Mulligan's will then collect the turkeys and hams that have been provided by the supermarket customers and donate them to the FoodBank.

The idea originated from restaurant manager Joe Hozella's desire to help local food banks feed as many people as possible during the holiday season. Hozella acted on that desire and contacted Lorie Blanco, food drive coordinator of the Food- Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties.

According to Susan Kelly, executive director of the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, the food bank is a central distribution center that helps to serve tens of thousands of people in the two-county region through a network of 250 churches and hunger relief organizations.

Kelly said information that was developed over the past few months indicated about 7,000 turkeys would be needed this season. She said the FoodBank has already purchased about 5,000 turkeys, but said donations are welcome.

"Joe Hozella stepped up at a very critical time. More companies should follow his lead and do the same thing. If it was not for people like Joe and Mulligan's we would not meet the need," she said. "This is a matter of whether or not people in need will have a special day. It is about people coming together and working as a community."

John Sullivan, store manager of Shopn Bag in Farmingdale, shared Kelly's sentiments and said Shop-n-Bag has been participating in food drives for more than a decade.

"We have had a program with the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties for about 15 years. We also donate to Joshua House and the Howell food pantry," Sullivan said. "We do our fair share. There are a lot of people out there who cannot feed themselves. This is the right thing to do."

Kelly paid special tribute to the volunteers who help make the local fight against hunger a success.

"These volunteers are on the front lines of hunger. Their efforts on a local level are huge," she said, adding that, "this November the food bank will be sending out a half-million pounds of food."