Curbing Hunger, Inc. is a community based program that provides food for the hungry during times of the year when food bank’s supplies are the lowest. Initially, this occurred during the summer months when food is not traditionally collected and distributed and many food banks are forced to buy food or close their doors; hence, our tag line, “Hunger Doesn’t Take a Vacation”.
The need has reached critical proportions. Over the last few years the demand for food through food pantries has increased over 70%. In Somerset County, NJ alone over 3,000 persons are now helped monthly. About ½ are children under the age of 18.
The mission of Curbing Hunger, Inc. is to alleviate hunger during the most critical periods, when food supplies are low, by collecting and supplying food, and supporting food banks and pantries, and to assist other entities in replicating this program. So, we are not just about collecting and distributing food, we are also available to help others alleviate hunger in their own communities.
Curbing Hunger, Inc. is a 501(c)3 recognized charitable organization. We have been operating for almost 20 years and have collected and distributed over 2.1 million pounds of food. About one half of the recipients are children under the age of 18.
We invite you to learn more about us on our website. Please take particular note of the “How To Help” tab, and we encourage you to “Contact Us”.
Curbing Hunger, Inc. was founded in 1995 originally as an outreach program of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, in Basking Ridge, NJ. The then Rector, Father Rozzelle, noticed the crisis at the Foodbank Network of Somerset County during the summer months. During the holidays lots of food is collected by many organizations, but not so in the summer. A program based on community participation including county freeholders, recyclers and municipal workers was started. Orange bags were attached to blue recycling bins in June and households would put food in the bags to be picked up by the recyclers. The program was a huge success. The foodbank did not have to close or buy food, and the program received much publicity.
Somerset County, NJ remains the model for the program. Orange bags are distributed to 75,000 households for the summer collection program. June is recognized in the county as “Curbing Hunger Month”. Over the years, the Curbing Hunger organization has helped start other programs in other communities, usually county based such as Hunterdon County, Middlesex County and Morris County. Other communities from Australia to Boston have inquired about the program. Middlesex now runs its own program called McFoods and Morris County has initiated a county wide town competition program for the late Summer / early Fall.
Today, Curbing Hunger’s first two objectives are the same as they were in 1995. A third objective has been added given the current food crisis. Demand is up by 75% or more in most places in the United States including NJ counties. The objectives are:
- To assure availability of food in the summer months
- To increase community involvement
- To expand services to other months of need