Lacey Food Bank Program

Click on our Notice/Events page for current Lacey Food Bank activities and collections.

	Mrs. Ritner accepts the Certificate of Appreciation for her 5th grade winners of the SOUPER DRIVE. NEVER SETTLE FOR LESS THAN YOUR BEST! Proud Paws Club SOUPER DRIVE 5th grade winners waiting patiently for their pizza reward.     Rose Steitz presents Mr. Ryan and his 6th grade a Certificate of Appreciation for most donations! MILL POND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - SOUPER STARS!!!     It was during a conversation late last summer in the Community Garden at the Mill Pond School between Co-Chair Laura and Mill Pond Principal Mrs. Sue Gallagher that the idea for a one item food drive took root.   Always a supporter of the Lacey Food Bank, Mrs. Gallagher learned that one of the biggest challenges facing us this year was the growing number of families.  With winter approaching, the Food Bank concern was keeping enough soup on hand to provide each family with 2 cans of soup in their monthly package.  When you factor in the 200+ families the Food Bank currently serves, that translates to a minimum of 400 cans of soup needed each month.  No easy task when the LFB relies solely on donations of food and money to keep the shelves stocked.     With a history of service to the community, the Mill Pond School lost no time in implementing a SOUPER DRIVE under the leadership of Mrs. Lori Rutigliano and Mrs. Jacque Supsie, faculty advisors to the "Proud Paws Club". And their SOUPER DRIVE efforts were rewarded with SUPER results.  A total of 1,486 cans of soup was collected and donated to the Lacey Food Bank just in time for the start of the winter season. The 2 top donating classes were treated to a pizza party courtesy of Co-chair Laura who also presented Mr. Ryan's 6th Grade Class and Mrs. Ritner's 5th Grade Class with Certificates of  Appreciation and a challenge to beat their record next year!    The Lacey Food Bank and the families we serve are very grateful to ALL the students, their parents and the faculty for the enthusiastic support of the first ever SOUPER DRIVE!

	Net Results are Awesome! Something wonderful happens every January when the Lacey K-6 teachers take to the floor in a volleyball competition that has hundreds of students and parents cheering from the sidelines.  With the Lacey Township High School gym packed to overflowing, the competition is a family fun night that includes a Lacey Food Bank Table.   This year's event was coordinated by Carlene Sramaty from Cedar Creek Elementary.  The planning committee included reps from all the elementary schools: Terry Stesney and Cheryl Armato from Lanoka Harbor, Kim Wade from Forked River and Chris Crowell from Mill Pond.  Tina Swain, a familiar face from the Lanoka Harbor School manned the overflowing Lacey Food Bank Table.  A raffle ticket for a $25.00 gift card was given to each student who brought a donation for the Lacey Food Bank.    Congratulations go to Cedar Creek Elementary School who took the trophy home AGAIN this year!!   Many thanks to all the  parent-teacher associations who put this fun and food-filled night together.  Tina Swain with a portion of the food that was collected for the food bank.

Hometown Heroes come in all sizes!!   Toward the end of last year, Co-chairman Laura Caroccia approached two Lacey schools with the idea of turning their annual food drives into a test program for one-item food campaigns.  "The purpose," she said, "was to highlight the areas of need in the face of our changing demographics and the upcoming winter."    Cedar Creek School, under the direction of Principal Mrs. Jackie Ranuska, accepted the challenge of 'Canned Protein' - an important nutrient for adults and especially growing children.  To add to the excitement, an in-school competition was launched, with the winning grade to receive a Certificate of Achievement and a surprise.    The winners of the Cedar Creek School 1-Item Campaign was Mrs. Papa's 3rd Grade Class and they were treated to a pizza party today courtesy of Co-chairman Laura.  And then, Cedar Creek turned around and surprised us!  When they heard we were coming, a jeans day was organized and the event proceeds of $59.00 was donated to the Lacey Food Bank Kids!!    The 1-Item food campaign was big success at Cedar Creek with more 500 cans of tuna collected.   Good Job and Thank You to all the students and staff of the Cedar Creek School for their continuing support.    LFBKids Committeewoman Rosa Steitz presenting a Certificate of Achievement to 3rd grade teacher Mrs. Papa at the Cedar Creek School and some of the kids.

	MORE THAN JUST EGGS AND TOAST   The Forked River Breakfast Club is a neighborhood group who, when celebrating, bring food to the various social events they hold. In December, at a dinner party held by the Auerbachs, a whole trunk load of groceries were produced.   Recently, Bonnie D'Amato of the group brought us a bounty gathered during the breakfast meeting, plus her own check for $100.   This group of nice people here in Lacey have been supporting us with creativity and commitment for several years, and we are very grateful for their generosity.

	The Lacey Food Bank received this letter, along with a check for $50 from Mackenzie Wyman, a student at the Mill Pond School.  Her parents, friends and teachers should be very proud of her!   Dear Lacey Food Bank,   My name is Mackenzie Wyman. I am 12 years old, and I go to Mill Pond School. I recently made home made chocolates and sold it to friends and family. I decided to donate the profit to the Lacey Food Bank.I realize that this is not a large donation, but I hope it helps.   Sincerely, Mackenzie Wyman   Thank you, Mackenzie!!

	Ken Rylak of the Fish Hawks netting a big catch for LFB! THANKS TO OUR NEWEST PARTNERS!   Did you know that you cannot use food stamps, now called an EBT card, to buy soap, toothpaste, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, or even a band aid? According to the guidelines, all these items are 'wants' and not needs.   The Lacey Food Bank thanks and salutes our newest partners:  The Republican Organization of Berkeley Township and liaison Lloyd Mullikin, Ken Rylak and Jimmy Blavat of the Fish Hawks of Lacey, together with Arm & Hammer for stepping up and providing our clients with household and personal hygiene products.  These are items that our clients would have to forego, especially now, when the toll of higher winter utility bills severely cuts into the purchase of any "wants" they need!    It is truly amazing what can be achieved by partnering with people, businesses and organizations that share our passion of providing basic assistance to those who need it the most.

	Everywhere else it may be the Year of the Dragon, but here at the Lacey Food Bank we're calling it the year of the Hometown Hero!    Camera-shy, Donna Quigley of C & R Plumbing & Heating, Lanoka Harbor, recently presented Co-chair Laura with a donation of $150.00, the result of another successful "LIKE" campaign on Facebook, to benefit the Lacey Food Bank Kids.   This is another great example of Hometown Businesses, Hometown Organizations and Hometown Community members working together to fight hunger.

The Lacey Food Bank and the Lacey Food Bank Kids Committee lost a good friend and volunteer this weekend with the passing of Eileen Figueroa. Eileen, who served as our liaison to an outside corps of volunteers, died Saturday from injuries sustained in an auto accident. She was 26 years old. Whether it was helping to unload a truck or putting tables in place, Eileen would be among the first to lend a hand and share a smile during our monthly setup. Some women are more special than they know; some for the things that they do, some for the joy that they give and yet others for the kindness they show. But then, there are a few women, like Eileen, who have all of this. She had all the sparkle you would expect from a young woman with a full life ahead of her. No wonder we feel this loss so deeply. Our deepest sympathy to her Mother and siblings.

LFB Co-Chair Laura Caroccia (far right) with volunteers	CELEBRATING A JOB WELL DONE!   There's a special camaraderie that seems to connect and build bonds between people who break bread together, and that camaraderie was very evident at the Annual Volunteer Holiday Luncheon that took place recently at the Captains Inn, Forked River. More than 40 volunteers of the Lacey Food Bank took a few hours out of their busy schedules to celebrate a year well spent in friendship and service to the community. Lunch was a triple-crown winner this year with a choice of entrees, a delish apple strudel ala mode for dessert and great door prizes provided by the LFB Kids Committee and the LFB Co-Chairs Laura and Pete!	LFB Co-Chair Harold (Pete) Peters
	Guests of honor - Mr. & Mrs.Tony Caporale Tony Caporale, owner of Caporale Pet Supplies, Inc. in Waretown is another fine example of how the business community responds to our needs. Tony has been transporting food for our food bank every month since the state put the kibosh on using open bed trucks.