MARMORA — The Southern Regional Food Distribution Center (SRFDC) made its first delivery of free groceries to Upper Township schools through its Beyond the Bell program Oct. 21.
The Vineland-based SRFDC is one of six recognized food banks in New Jersey serving schools and community organizations across the southern region to reduce food insecurity and support local families by providing consistent access to healthy groceries in partnership with schools.
“We are trying to work with schools to remove the stigma of food insecurity,” SRFDC School Outreach Coordinator Amy Queeney said.
The program is designed as a hybrid food distribution program that works collaboratively with schools to meet the unique needs of each community. Its goal is to provide flexible, dignified food access and to help remove the stigma often associated with receiving food assistance.
Queeney said that is accomplished through making the distribution a celebration of food so that no one feels uncomfortable coming forward.
Queeney said the SRFDC provides a variety of foods, some that students can make on their own in case they are latchkey kids and others to make as a family.
She said Beyond the Bell recognizes that “schools do such an amazing job with kids, giving them breakfast, giving them lunch, giving them snacks. This program goes beyond the bell to provide for them at home.”
Queeney said the idea for the collaboration was presented to Laurie Ryan, business administrator for Upper Township schools, who immediately embraced the concept.
“She expressed excitement about how the program can help students and their families by providing consistent access to healthy groceries and community support outside of school hours,” SRFDC Executive Director Jill Lombardo said.
The program will be managed by Upper Township school social workers Arianna Gallagher and Jill Clark, school psychologist Mary Leap and guidance counselor Tracy LeFever.
Members of the school community in need of help due to financial constraints or situational shortfalls — such as an illness in the family or job loss — are urged to fill out an application for emergency food assistance through the school district.
Queeney said parents should not assume they do not qualify, as the program is available to the entire school community.
“We went from four families in October to 24 families in November. We’re really very proud of this program,” Ryan said.
Groceries are delivered to the school monthly and can be picked up by recipients. Queeney said the program was done through schools because they often are the main hub of a town and people rely on their resources.
Families with children in any or all three schools are encouraged to reach out to participate.
Upper Township schools are the first in Cape May County to introduce the Beyond the Bell program, which also is available in Atlantic, Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties.
Call (856) 327-3145 or email amy@ruraldevelopmentcorp.org for more information about this initiative or to learn how to get involved.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
