The first-ever Verona Fights Hunger Week will take place October 12 to 18. During this town-wide food drive organized by the Junior Woman’s Club of Verona, local schools, businesses, civic organizations, charities and religious groups will collect donations for the Human Needs Food Pantry in Montclair, the food bank used by Verona residents.
Individuals and families are encouraged to contribute non-perishable, non-expired, healthy food, such as cereal, canned fruits and vegetables, baby formula and Ensure/Glucerna nutrition drinks. Donations of NEW socks, underwear, toiletries and diapers are also needed. Donation bins will be located throughout town, including at the Verona Community Center, Verona Town Hall, Verona Public Library, Kings Food Market, Verona Inn, Frank Anthony’s, Bella Gente, PositiviTea, Lapels, Walgreens, Anthony Franco’s, Avenue Bistro, Lakeside Deli and Hot Bagels-N-More.
Verona Mayor Bob Manley urged residents to support Verona Fights Hunger Week.
“As over 50 million people in the United States, mostly children, are struggling with hunger, one in six Americans is not getting enough to eat,” Manley said. “I am so proud and honored to know that an organization in our community like the Junior Woman’s Club of Verona has taken on the initiative of fighting this deplorable situation. I implore all of our residents to please, get behind this incredibly worthwhile effort and support our Junior Woman’s Club in this, their first endeavor of this type.”
Verona Fights Hunger Week will kick off at 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 12 with a proclamation ceremony at Kings Food Market. That day, the Verona store will donate 5% of every purchase to the Human Needs Food Pantry and will provide customers with a coupon of $5 off any purchase over $75.
Other businesses offering promotions are:
· Bella Gente, which will offer 10 percent off to customers who donate food
· Hot Bagels-N-More, which will give six free bagels to customers who donate food
· Lakeside Deli, which will make a donation of $3 to the Human Needs Food Pantry for every meal purchased during Take Out Thursday on Oct. 16
· Lapels, which will offer 15 percent off dry cleaning to customers who donate food
· PositiviTea, which will offer 10 percent off to customers who donate food
· Verona Inn, which will give free sides of French fries on Thursday, Oct. 16, to all customers who donate food
In addition, the Verona Public Library will waive all fines throughout the week for patrons who donate food. The Juniors also are grateful for the support of the Verona Mayor’s Charity Fund and PostNet.
On Oct. 18, all donations will be collected on the steps of Verona Town Hall. Casella & Sons Moving Service will then transport everything to the Human Needs Food Pantry on behalf of the Juniors.
Juniors President Christine McGrath and member Erika Grotheus, the chairs of Verona Fights Hunger Week, are grateful for the efforts of so many.
“It has been very rewarding to join forces with others in our community to make Verona Fights Hunger Week a reality,” McGrath said. “The outpouring of support that we’ve already witnessed certainly will help us reach our goal of helping our neighbors.”
Four percent of Verona’s households live below the federal poverty level, according to a recent report published by the United Way of Northern New Jersey. Another 20 percent of households struggle to make ends meet and cannot always afford groceries and other basic necessities.
For more information about Verona Fights Hunger Week or to make a financial donation, please go to www.veronajuniors.org or email [email protected].
