Courtesy of Jewish Family Service of Atlantic and Cape May Counties
Jewish Family Service of Atlantic and Cape May Counties opened a mobile food truck pantry on Oct. 15, a major step in the organization’s goal to combat food insecurity in the region.
The ribbon-cutting for the mobile food pantry was held at the Borgata Surface parking lot, and during the event, the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa and its parent company, MGM Resorts International, gave JFS a $100,000 grant to support its Food Security Initiatives program.
Volunteers from the Borgata also donated 2,000 hygiene kits to be stocked in the mobile pantry.
The mobile food pantry becomes another part of JFS’ food security initiatives, delivering fresh produce and other essential products throughout Atlantic City, an area considered to be a “food desert,” defined as an area with a sizable population that has low levels of access to healthy and affordable food.
“As a designated food desert, Atlantic City faces critical challenges, including limited availability of affordable, healthy food and a food insecurity rate of 22% — more than double the statewide average,” JFS wrote in its most recent newsletter.
The organization said its goal is to assist over 3,500 Atlantic City residents and distribute over 10,000 pounds of fresh produce over the next year.
JFS said that one in eight adult residents in Atlantic City suffer from food insecurity, which is defined as not having sufficient amounts of food or quality of food to meet a person’s basic needs.
Currently, the organization states that it provides over 3,000 meals per week, but adds that the need is growing with increased costs of living.
“This mobile pantry will not only be able to provide essential emergency food but also connect community members to a myriad of wrap-around supports offered by JFS and our community partners,” said Laura Rodgers, chief impact officer at JFS.
Rodgers said that the increasing food needs of the community are also represented by their data, with the organization assisting over 15,000 people in the last year, up from an annual average near 2,000.
The major benefit of the pantry comes in the convenience it provides, with the organization saying it will travel to easy-to-access locations like schools during student pick-up times and job sites around when workers would end their shifts.
The mobile food pantry also comes with a choice model system, which allows users to create a profile and indicate any dietary restrictions while browsing the pantry’s available inventory.
During the ribbon-cutting, attendees were able to tour the mobile pantry and see a demonstration of the choice model system software.
Begum Malali, the director of food security initiatives at JFS, said during a speech at the event that JFS works with a variety of retailers on a food rescue program, taking unused food that would normally be thrown away.
Malali added that working with these retailers allows the pantry to stay stocked with food options for different dietary needs.
Malali said JFS has rescued around 14,500 pounds of food from retailers so far this year. But she added that the organization can still go further in assisting Atlantic City residents.
“While we have made strides in food security for this community, we have more work to do. JFS developed the Food Security department last year to provide more than just food, but support, referrals and connection for those guests who visit our mobile or office-based pantry,” Malali said.
Malali added that JFS will increase its distribution over the next several months as it continues to ramp up its food insecurity programs.
“We are just getting started. Moving ahead, we are working to increase to 12 Atlantic City distributions monthly and provide more than 3,100 meals per week. Our team will work to expand choice options and fresh offerings and serve 100 households with ongoing case management support. I am confident this team will strengthen and empower our community members,” Malali said.
