The Mayor’s Food Basket is launching the second annual Middletown Holiday food drive to help local families. The goal is to collect more than a ton food for the Middletown Food Pantry.
Middletown Mayor Stephanie M. Murray is working in partnership with the Social Services Department to stock the pantry shelves. “I urge everyone to get into the spirit of giving this holiday season with a food donation,” said Mayor Murray, noting the ton of food collected last year has long since been distributed.
All donations are given to the Middletown Food Pantry to help local families. Non-perishable items needed include canned goods such as beans, fruit, prepared meals, tuna and vegetables, sauces, peanut butter and jelly, pasta, and rice.
Collection bins can be found at township facilities including Town Hall at 1 Kings Highway, the Middletown Library, 55 New Monmouth Road and Middletown Arts Center, 36 Church Street. Visit www.middletownnj.org/donate for a current list of township facilities and businesses accepting donations.
Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, businesses and other groups that take up collections are welcome to bring them directly to the Middletown Food Pantry. Businesses accepting donations or hosting special food collection events can send an e-mail to socialservices@middletownnj.org to be added to the list of sites accepting food donations. Please include the name of the business and the address.
Social services will also accept “extra” holiday hams and turkeys earned during the many grocery store promotions. These donations can be brought directly to Middletown Food Pantry, 180 Main Street, Port Monmouth. Hams and turkeys are used to fill holiday food baskets for Middletown families. Food gift cards are also welcome. Call 732-615-2085 for more information.