Third Annual New Jersey Credit Unions Food Cooperative Donates Over 5,500 Pounds of Food to New Jersey Communities

First Harvest Credit Union, Affinity Federal Credit Union, and EdiFi Credit Union, shared the results of the third annual New Jersey Credit Unions Food Cooperative, which united 17 credit unions throughout the state. This year’s participating credit unions successfully collected and donated over 5,500 pounds of essential food items in total to support over two dozen food pantries and organizations throughout 16 New Jersey counties.

The collection period specifically targeted the heightened need for food during the summer months, when many children lose access to school-provided meals while on break. The New Jersey Credit Unions Food Cooperative helped replenish the shelves of local food pantries and organizations as a result of the increased need. All participating credit unions and their designated branches served as collection locations from June 15th through August 31st, providing broader geographic coverage across New Jersey. Each credit union branch directly supported a food pantry or organization within the community it serves.

Participating New Jersey credit unions include:

• Affinity Federal Credit Union (Co-Sponsor)
• EdiFi Credit Union (Co-Sponsor)
• First Harvest Credit Union (Co-Sponsor)
• ACE Federal Credit Union
• Advanced Financial Federal Credit Union
• Bay Atlantic Federal Credit Union
• County Excellence Federal Credit Union
• Deepwater Industries Federal Credit Union
• Elizabeth, NJ Firemen's Federal Credit Union
• Healthcare Employees Federal Credit Union
• Manville Area Federal Credit Union
• Members 1st of NJ Federal Credit Union
• Motion Federal Credit Union
• Princeton Federal Credit Union
• Ridgedale Federal Credit Union
• Seaport Federal Credit Union
• The Atlantic Federal Credit Union

Benefitting New Jersey food organizations include:

• Abundant Life Food Pantry – Edgewater Park, NJ
• Atlantic Cape Community College Food Pantry – Cape May Court House, NJ
• Casano Community Center Food Pantry – Roselle Park, NJ
• Cathedral Kitchen – Camden, NJ
• Cumberland, Gloucester & Salem (CGS) Family Support Organization – Vineland, NJ
• Disciple Pantry at Asbury United Methodist Church – Woodstown, NJ
• Feeding Hands Pantry – Hillsborough, NJ
• Food Bank Network of Somerset County – Bound Brook, NJ
• Holy Trinity-West Orange Food Pantry – West Orange, NJ
• HomeFront – Lawrenceville, NJ
• Interfaith Food Pantry Network – Morris Plains, NJ
• Lunch Break – Red Bank, NJ
• Main Street Food Pantry at First Union Methodist Church – Mays Landing, NJ
• Princeton Mobile Food Pantry – Princeton, NJ
• Rowan College of South Jersey Student Food Bank – Sewell, NJ
• Rowan University’s The Shop Pantry & Resource Center – Glassboro, NJ
• Sister Jean’s Kitchen, Pantry & Garden – Atlantic City, NJ
• St John's Roman Catholic Church – Newark, NJ
• Peter’s Community Food Pantry – Clarksboro, NJ
• The Community Food Bank of South Jersey – Egg Harbor Township, NJ
• The SHARE Alliance – Springfield, NJ
• The Westfield Food Pantry – Westfield, NJ
• The Samaritan Center – Glassboro, NJ
• Vineland Community Kitchen – Vineland, NJ

“As not-for-profit credit unions, we see firsthand that change is strongest when it is driven by collective effort. Across New Jersey’s rural, urban, and suburban communities, food inequity and affordability challenges continue to affect too many of our neighbors. By coming together around a shared purpose, credit unions can combine our resources, reach, and commitment to create a greater impact than any one organization could achieve alone. This united effort reflects our member-driven mission and our shared responsibility to support the communities that need us most.” First Harvest Credit Union President & CEO, Mike Dinneen.

“We’re seeing the stress that the increased cost of food and necessities is having on our local communities. This effort to help those in need is perfectly consistent with the mission of the credit union movement to lift up individuals and families. It’s great to see so many of our credit union colleagues collaborating together towards this initiative.” EdiFi Credit Union President & CEO Jill Peterson

“As food insecurity continues to impact communities across New Jersey, it’s more important than ever for organizations to come together and help expand access to healthy, affordable food. At Affinity, we believe in the power of the cooperative model, people helping people, and this initiative is a meaningful example of credit unions working together to make a positive difference in the communities we serve.” Affinity Federal Credit Union President & CEO, Kevin Brauer