OAK RIDGE — Lakeland Bank is participating in the New Jersey United Way food drive through Nov. 30 to benefit local pantries that are struggling to keep their shelves stocked.
The holiday season brings an additional layer of financial burden and stress to many already experiencing financial strain. Donations will help United Way relieve this burden for families in need in Bergen, Essex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren counties. Donations can be dropped off at all Lakeland Bank Branch Locations.
Lakeland Bank customers and walk-ins are encouraged to join our colleagues to help fill the donation boxes. There is a high demand for non-perishable canned meats (chicken, ham, sausage and tuna), baby wipes and diapers. Other suggested items include, canned fruits and vegetables, soups and stews, pasta, rice, peanut butter, hot and cold boxed cereals, powdered or evaporated milk, 100 percent fruit juice and baby formula.
“Local food pantry leaders are reporting an increase in need and a decrease in donations and United Way pantries are busier than ever, said Thomas J. Shara, president and chief executive officer off Lakeland Bank. "These hunger relief organizations need our help and we are grateful for this opportunity to give back and make a difference in our communities."
Startling Statistics
The United Way of Northern New Jersey reports that 1.1 million New Jersey households are unable to afford life’s basic necessities. That number includes those living in poverty and a population often overlooked – ALICE, a United Way acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed. The agency’s Study of Financial Hardship in New Jersey found that:
Half of New Jersey’s 566 towns have 30 percent or more households earning less than what is needed to afford the basics
One-third of ALICE households are headed by those in their prime wage-earning years, 45- to 64-years-old
More than half of all jobs in New Jersey pay less than $20 an hour; $40,000 annually.
For more information about the food drive, visit a Lakeland Bank branch.