The awardees are:聽
鈥⒙燭he Lord鈥檚 Pantry, Trinity United Methodist Church, Hackettstown
鈥⒙燜ixer of Hearts Food Pantry, Community Church Fixer of Hearts, North Brunswick聽
鈥⒙燭he Emergency Food Pantry, Christ Care Unit Missionary Baptist Church, Sicklerville
The single use grants were made possible by the Kessler Foundation through DHS鈥� Division of Disability Services (DDS). Each of the selected pantries operates within the New Jersey Emergency Food Provider System serving urban and rural areas in the northern, central and southern parts of the state.
鈥淲e鈥檙e so grateful to the Kessler Foundation for making accessibility a priority,鈥� said Commissioner Velez. 鈥淎s a result of its generosity, building adaptations can be made to these pantries that enable individuals, who are food insecure and have mobility challenges, to get the assistance they need.鈥�
The awarded food pantries also provide information about and referral to other assistance programs, such as NJ SNAP (the state鈥檚 food assistance program), WorkFirstNJ (welfare) and NJ FamilyCare (subsidized health insurance).聽 Capital improvements, which otherwise would be cost prohibitive for the food pantries, will afford people with physical disabilities access to food, clothing and other services.聽 The selected applicants must submit an architecturally feasible plan to DDS.
鈥淏ecause of the economy, our state鈥檚 food pantries have seen a real increase in need, especially within the disability community,鈥� said DDS鈥� Director, Joseph Amoroso. 鈥淭hese accessibility grants enhance the emergency food provider system and empower individuals with disabilities to obtain the services they need, with dignity.鈥�
DDS is the state鈥檚 lead agency for disability services. A four-member review committee, including people with disabilities and/or an extensive knowledge of ADA accommodations, rated and scored each proposal.
