By Krystle J Bailey
When Angela Krukauskas’ husband fell critically ill five years ago, her neighbors stepped in to help care for her family. After his discharge from ICU, Angela searched for a way to give back to her community as a “thank you.”
The Egg Harbor City mother of two started an open-air, 24-hour food pantry in her front yard that began with one box of stuffing and a sign that read, “Take a blessing if you need one, leave a blessing when you can.”
One box led to another, and soon the pantry was filled with donations for those needing a little extra help. By Christmas, toys and gift cards began to find their way to the Krukauskas home, and 41 local children were blessed with the holiday season they deserved.
Over the past five years, the blessings have increased exponentially. The food pantry has evolved well beyond soup cans and stuffing boxes. The telephone booth-sized pantry now includes refrigerators and freezers, fresh produce donated by South Jersey farmers, diapers, medical supplies, and so much more. Last year, 388 children received Christmas gifts donated by the helping hands and giving hearts of the local community.
“I thought about what I can do that would impact those in the town that are really in need,” explained Krukauskas. “I thought to myself, I coupon really well; we could probably feed some people.”
The kind gesture has amounted to feeding hundreds of families over the years. Now a 501(c)3 nonprofit, No1 Hungry in EHC continues to serve Atlantic County families in momentous ways. Whether someone is searching for a hospital bed or a can of sauerkraut, Angela Krukauskas and her team of 200+ volunteers will go above and beyond to allocate it.
In 2018 when the city delivered a cease and desist notice to the Boston Avenue home, what should have slowed down the operation instead propelled it forward. Krukauskas invited anyone who believed in what she was doing to attend the City Council meeting with donations in hand.
The meeting room flooded with community members in support of the mission, and rather than council members voting against the continuation of the pantry, they encouraged Krukauskas to keep going. One councilman even noted that he would have gone hungry as a child if not for kind people like Angela Krukauskas.
That meeting became a launching pad for No1 Hungry in EHC, as donations began to flood in and dozens more families were blessed. The “No1 Hungry in EHC” Facebook group now has over 2,000 community members who are encouraged to help one another by sharing needs, donations, and opportunities. When there is a need, Angela assures, she can typically fulfill it within 24 hours.
The No1 Hungry volunteer team has expanded well beyond the Egg Harbor City residential property. When tragedy strikes, these volunteers are the helpers, healers, and givers. They show up ready to fill in the gaps wherever necessary. From feeding individuals in motels to following First Responders to see where there may be a need, the No1 Hungry in EHC team goes above and beyond to ensure locals are fed, clothed, and cared for.
When asked what keeps her going, Angela Krukauskas states, “I can’t ever stop. I believe God made my husband well because I fulfilled my promise of taking care of the people that took care of us. There are so many people in need right now.”
The organization is fueled by 100% community donations. Yearly fundraisers and donation drives help to feed and bless hundreds of local families each year. This year, Krukauskas and team are looking forward to a Christmas in July campaign that invites individuals to get a headstart on holiday giving.
Each winter season, the donated warehouse that the organization uses throughout the year is set up as a holiday workshop. Families come in to shop for their children and leave with a full haul of gifts, stocking stuffers, wrapping paper, gift boxes, and anything else they need to bring a dose of holiday magic into their homes. To ease the financial burden of the holiday season, No1 Hungry in EHC is encouraging those who can to donate items now that will be given out at Christmas time.
In an effort to highlight South Jersey businesses and raise funds that will continue to uplift the community, the team is curating a recipe calendar that will feature items found in the food pantry. Local restaurants are encouraged to participate by contributing their unique recipe using easily accessible ingredients. Once complete, calendars will be available for a nominal fee to raise money for the cause.
This year, the organization’s goal is to open a storefront pantry. They hope to expand beyond the donated warehouse they currently operate out of and look forward to reaching even more local families.
With the increased food prices and economic changes, the need for donations is higher than ever. All financial contributions and donations are welcomed. For more information, visit the Facebook group, “No1HungryinEHC” or contact Angela at No1hungryinehc@yahoo.com.
Krystle J Bailey is a multimedia journalist, author and poet. Connect with Krystle on Instagram @thedailybailey5
