def #7

def #7 01/20/10

OCEAN COUNTY FOOD VOUCHER PROGRAM HELPS THOSE IN NEED

TOMS RIVER – With funding from Ocean County, 25 food pantries currently are helping to meet some specialized food needs for a number of the county’s most vulnerable and needy residents through a Food Voucher Program.

“Through this program we are attempting to help our most vulnerable citizens obtain proper food items to help maintain their health and meet their nutritional needs,” said Freeholder Gerry P. Little, who serves as liaison to the Ocean County Department of Human Services. “Items such as baby formula, milk, low sodium foods and foods that meet the special dietary needs for people suffering with diabetes and heart disease can be obtained through this special program.

“These items often are not found at food pantries so we are working with the pantries in attempting to meet this need,” Little said.

Little noted that under the program, food pantries are allocated vouchers based on need and demand. The vouchers, which come in denominations of $10 and $25, are then distributed for use at all Ocean County Shop Rite stores, FoodTown supermarkets and NPGS.

“The program is monitored by the Ocean County Department of Human Services which also oversees the funding for it,” Little said. “This is a program that we have developed to help supplement the efforts of the food pantries in the county.”

The county provides about $70,000 for the program through its Social Services for the Homeless funding.

Little noted that during difficult economic times, Ocean County continues to make a concerted effort in helping those who need it most.

“The Board of Freeholders is providing a total of $95,000 to help the local food pantries in their efforts to feed the homeless and those who are experiencing economic difficulties through a loss of employment or for other reasons,” Little said. “It’s important that our residents know help is available to them.”

Little noted that Ocean County also provides $8,000 to help fund a mobile food pantry.

“This funding supports a traveling/mobile food pantry that the Salvation Army and the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean counties operate in a partnership,” Little said. “It serves people living in areas that do not have a food pantry close by or where individuals may have a hard time accessing transportation.”

In addition, Little said that $3,000 of county funds is provided to support the functions of the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties for food distribution on behalf of the county’s residents and another $14,000 goes to the food bank from Community Development Block Grant Funding also administered by Ocean County.

“No one wants to see anyone, be it a neighbor or a stranger, go without food for themselves or their family,” Little said. “We are doing our best to make sure those who are in need get assistance until they can get back on their feet financially.”