Community Corner

Season of Giving: Residents Rally to Help Families in Need of Food

Turkeys and non-perishable items were provided to more than 200 families today

A long line of Lacey residents wrapped around Community Hall this frigid morning awaiting a Thanksgiving meal and a brown bag filled with food to hold their families over for the next month.

“This is a true community event,” Lacey Food Bank Co-Chairman Laura Carrocia said as members of the food bank, Forked River Rotary Club and ’s Interact Club gathered to distribute the food.

“Having kids here, its just part of a community gift,” she said. “It shows the kids that there’s a need for them to serve. They do this on their own time to give back to the community.”

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During the last year, the Lacey Food Bank has not only seen a spike in numbers but an increase in families in need, Carrocia said.

“There has been a complete shift in what people believe the food bank feeds and what it actually serves,” she said. “People have to choose to eat, pay their electric bills and pay their mortgage.”

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The food bank serves more than 230 children. The food bank distributes more than three-and-a-half tons of food each month, Lacey Food Bank Co-Chairman Harold Peters said.

Today, the nonprofit groups distributed food to more than 206 families. Bags were overflowing with non-perishables.

“It’s a pretty smooth operation,” Peters said. “All we ask for is a smile and a thank you.”

Food was provided by the United States Department of Agriculture, bought by the food bank or donated. The Rotary Club raised funds at various events, including the Doggy Derby, to support the needs of the community, Lori Aceto said.

The club is working in conjunction with Interact to provide Lacey Food Bank families with a full thanksgiving meal. More than 35 high school students volunteered to carry a bag of food and a turkey to the clients' cars.

“It’s very important to the community because many of these families can not only not afford their food but they cannot afford their Thanksgiving dinner. So it provides a service, a family warmth tradition that they may not have otherwise had,” Aceto said.

On Dec. 16, Interact will shop for two hours at Walmart and spend more than $25,000 on gifts for children in need as part of its Elf program, she said.

“They do amazing things,” Aceto said. “This is probably one of the strongest Interact Clubs in the state.”

Interact President Marina Aceto and Officer Gina Bibbo said it has been a humbling experience helping the community.

Visit Lacey Patch on Monday for a story on the food bank’s toy drive for children during the holidays.

To make a monetary donation, make checks payable to "The Lacey Food Program" and mail to:

Lacey Food Bank Program
Lacey Township Administrator's Office
818 W. Lacey Rd.
Forked River, NJ 08731

If your family is in need, you can register for the Lacey Food Bank at the township municipal building.


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