There are many great ways for students to get involved in the community and volunteering at The Community Food Banks of New Jersey [CFBNJ] is just one of the various services Kean University students can do. On Saturday, January 31, 2015, about 20 students hopped on a bus and traveled just minutes away to the CFBNJ located in Hillside, New Jersey. As students produced on the bus with excitement, there was no doubt that all students would give 100 percent of their time helping those in need.
As said by Brittany Woods-Turner, a senior majoring in psychology, “there is nothing better than giving back to the community.”
Being known in the state of New Jersey as the provider that distributes the most donated groceries, CFBNJ is always in need of volunteers. It is known that one in five children in the state of New Jersey is not fed on a day-to-day basis need. With the hopes of making that number zero, the CFBNJ dispenses about 40 million pounds of food to 1 million hungry families in New Jersey each year. With the help of volunteers, CFNBJ is able to continue their hard work and dedication of ending the war of hunger.
Delois Blackmon, a sophomore majoring in psychology, says “what you put out is what you get back.”
Students began the day strong with wrapping unmarked food cans with the Helper Complete Meal label and placing about 30 marked food cans into an empty box. Students had a fabulous time while working hard to get the job complete, and by the time all volunteers were told that the shift was over, hundreds and hundreds of cans were ready to be distributed. All the hard work was paid off, not in money, but with satisfaction that a family in need would be fed that night; that a child who had not eaten since lunch time the day prior would have something to eat that night. Although it may not seem like a lot of work to pack cans in a box, sophomore chemistry and biology double major Tracey Heng says that “even the smallest actions can help a person in need.”
If students would like to volunteer at the CFBNJ during some spare time, sign up on Cougar Link and select one of the dates listed below:
