The Democrats — led by Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo, of Hamilton (pictured) — are pushing a modest measure that could help provide a few extra dollars to the state’s food banks and maybe help keep them in food.
The bill, which would establish a “Community Food Pantry Fund” in the state Department of the Treasury, is a stop-gap measure that should help, but fails to address the larger problems of economic inequality and food insecurity in New Jersey.
That said, giving taxpayers the opportunity to “voluntarily donate a portion of their income tax refund” to the new fund seems sensible. Money donated to the fund, according to a press release from the Assembly Majority office, “would be distributed to community food pantries through the state’s food purchase program. All the money is to be used exclusively to buy food.”
The bill passed the Assembly and awaits review by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
“The global economic crisis is hitting our state hard and may get worse,” DeAngelo (D-Mercer) said. “People who never thought they would ever visit a food pantry are now relying on them to put food on the table for their families. These are tough times, and anything we can do to make it easier for people to help those less fortunate is a good thing.”
Expecially when there are an “estimated 250,000 new clients … seeking help this year from New Jersey’s food banks.”
That represents a 25 percent increase, and that increase comes with a 20 percent decrease in food supplies and donations.
Hank Kalet 