Letter from the editor
Imagine the stress a parent feels when the refrigerator is nearly empty and payday is still days away — deciding whether to buy groceries or pay the electric bill, or stretching a box of cereal to last through the week.
I remember that feeling during the recession of 2008, when the housing market crashed and multiple industries nearly collapsed. Our family’s sales commission-based income dropped sharply. I can still picture myself at the grocery store, counting every dollar, wondering what to put back on the shelf. We picked up extra side jobs, did what we had to do and thankfully things got better over time. But I’ve never forgotten that feeling — and for many families, that kind of financial pressure has never gone away.
Today I attended the annual Women Fighting Hunger luncheon. I learned just how many of our neighbors are struggling to afford food right now. Food insecurity can touch anyone — friends, coworkers, parents at your child’s school. Many are working full time, yet rising costs for food, housing and electricity have made it hard to keep up. Sometimes all it takes is one missed paycheck, one emergency, or one government policy delay for things to unravel.
If the federal government shutdown continues, more than 40 million Americans — including about 32,000 people here in Atlantic County — may temporarily lose access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which helps families, seniors and children put food on the table. The thought of losing that safety net, even briefly, is deeply concerning.
SNAP isn’t a handout — it’s a bridge. Most recipients work hard but simply don’t earn enough to cover the basics. The average benefit amounts to about $6 per person, per day — a small but vital amount that helps stretch tight budgets.
When federal programs are disrupted, the need shifts to local food banks and pantries that are already stretched thin. The Community FoodBank of New Jersey, Southern Branch, does incredible work to fill those gaps, but demand continues to rise.
Hunger is more than a financial issue; it’s an emotional one. Parents quietly skip meals so their children can eat. Seniors water down soup to last another day. Hunger often hides behind closed doors, affecting people we might never suspect.
As we enter the season of giving, please consider helping however you can — by donating, volunteering or simply spreading the word. Small acts of kindness truly make a difference.
If you’d like to donate, volunteer or receive assistance, contact the Community FoodBank of New Jersey Southern Branch, 6735 Black Horse Pike, Egg Harbor Township, at (609) 383-8843, or visit CFBNJ.org.
Peace & Love,
Cindy
