(NORTH CAPE MAY, NJ) -- The New Jersey Farmers Cooperative (NJFC) has announced that it has been awarded an NJEDA grant to feed the hungry which will result in the distribution of 150,000 meals to food-insecure South Jersey residents. The New Jersey Farmers Cooperative will be partnering with the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, The Branches Center of Rio Grande, and local school districts among others, to get these meals into the hands of those who need them most. NJEDA-approved restaurant partner Willow Creek Winery has stepped up to prepare the meals.
Barbara Wilde, owner of Willow Creek Winery, who also serves as NJFC Director, commented, “We felt the sting of COVID, like so many Cape May County families and businesses, when we were completely shut down for months in the spring of 2020, so of course, we immediately volunteered Willow Creek’s Tasting Room kitchen to do the meal prep. We are blessed with a large facility that is capable of handling the task, and we couldn’t pass up this opportunity to serve our community in its time of need.”
The meals will be prepared by Willow Creek Winery staff and community volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the NJFC at director@njfarmerscoop.com.
The grant is provided through the NJEDA’s Sustain & Serve NJ Program– which allocates funding to organizations to purchase meals from New Jersey-based restaurants that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The NJFC is actively seeking funding for upcoming projects such as creating a business incubator at LeGates Farm & Market in partnership with SCORE & the Small Business Development Center at Stockton, developing apprenticeships for woodworking, farming, and historic restoration and they are also planning an educational garden with community allotments to teach people how to grow their own food.
The New Jersey Farmers Cooperative is a 501c3 non-profit. Your donation is tax-deductible. Donations may be made online.
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