’Tis the season for giving. With that in mind, the Long Beach Township construction department reached out to its employees and to business owners in the local area to help stock the food pantry at the St. Francis Community Center in Brant Beach. Last month, the department donated three carts full of food, as well as a check in the amount of $4,250.
“This would not have been possible without everyone who donated,” Danielle La Valle, from the office of the township clerk, said on behalf of the department.
Residents can drop off food in the community center foyer at any time during operating hours. The pantry has a refrigerator and freezer, and can accept items such as unopened bread and bags of rolls in addition to nonperishable canned, jarred and packaged foods. Peanut butter and jelly, and proteins such as canned tuna and beef stew, are always appreciated.
Personal care products – soap, deodorant, laundry detergent, diapers, toilet paper – are also needed.
For monetary donations, make checks payable to St. Francis Human Concerns. Checks may be mailed to St. Francis Human Concerns, 4700 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach Twp., N.J.,08008, or dropped off at the front desk of the community center.
The food pantry hours are as follows: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m, and Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. Families receive a bag of food that can then be customized using the various loose items in the pantry.
Anyone with questions about the food pantry may call 609-494-8861, extension 197, or visit stfranciscenterlbi.org. —J.K.-H.