July 2015
Summer in the City: Sizzling Temperatures and Empty Stomachs
Paterson, NJ — Long lines at the door and dwindling supplies are a sign that summer has arrived at CUMAC’s food pantry in Paterson, NJ. At a time of year when many are making travel arrangements and planning barbecues, thousands of families in New Jersey are struggling with food insecurity and need assistance.
“I don’t know how we would manage without the pantry” says Vanessa, a mother of two and CUMAC client. “These groceries are keeping us going.”
It is a critical time for Vanessa’s family. Though she works full time, the family is on a tight budget this summer. With her kids on break from school she will need food from CUMAC’s pantry to ensure that she can pay her bills this month. Summer recess is a major contributor to the increase in need among low-income families like Vanessa’s. According to a report released this month by Advocates for Children in New Jersey, just 19% of students who receive free or reduced-price lunch are enrolled in summer meal programs. Cities like Paterson offer summer meal sites, but transportation, regulations and outreach remain major barriers for the community, leaving many New Jersey youth at increased risk of hunger.
The meals in question can be costly for struggling families who are already on a tight budget. Paychecks tend to run out long before all the bills have been paid. A recent report from Feeding America estimates that low-income families spend an additional $300 per month on groceries during the summer. Unable to afford extra expenses, thousands of New Jersey families are turning to food pantries to bridge the gap.
“Summer is always one of our most difficult times” says Rev. Pat Bruger, CUMAC Executive Director. “So many families are struggling to afford the food they need.”
Bruger explains that CUMAC staff are happy to serve all who come their way, but summer is particularly difficult because of the limited resources available. Pantry donations last July dropped nearly 25% for Passaic County’s largest food pantry; August was even grimmer. This summer is following a similar pattern and with supplies running low CUMAC staff are concerned that support will not come soon enough, leaving the pantry without enough food to get through the season.
“Our donations drop dramatically and it gets very hard to serve all who come to us” says Bruger. “We don’t ever want to turn anyone away. For our clients this is their last line.”
Lack of school meals may contribute to summer crowds, but increased need has become a year-round trend for anti-hunger groups. CUMAC served over 40,000 people last year from all over Passaic County, the most in its thirty year history, and expects to surpass that number in 2015. Nationwide statistics are even more alarming. A report released by Feeding America earlier this month found that over 8 million pre-senior baby boomers between the ages of 50 and 64 are now receiving pantry services to keep food on the table. For seniors it is over 7 million people.
‘‘The economy may be improving, but not for everyone” says Bruger. “There are many individuals and families still struggling and its every day. Hunger doesn’t take a vacation.”
With food insecurity affecting people of all ages, support from the community is vital, especially during the summer. Individuals, groups and local businesses who want to make a difference can assist CUMAC’s programs by making a donation or holding a food collection this summer. To learn more about CUMAC or ways you can fight hunger visit www.cumacecho.org or call 973-742.5518.
About CUMAC
CUMAC is a 501c3 non-profit organization with multiple programs dedicated to alleviating hunger and poverty in Paterson, Passaic county and beyond. CUMAC’s programs include a food pantry that serves over 3,000 individuals every month, a food depot that handles nearly 2 million pounds of food for a network of over 50 feeding programs, a disaster relief program, a thrift shop that provides high quality, low cost items to the community, the Pathways to Work program that offers job training to those seeking gainful employment, Place of Promise which provides a permanent supportive housing program for the chronically homeless, and the Community Food Coalition, a collection of pantries working together to stop hunger in New Jersey.
“I don’t know how we would manage without the pantry” says Vanessa, a mother of two and CUMAC client. “These groceries are keeping us going.”
It is a critical time for Vanessa’s family. Though she works full time, the family is on a tight budget this summer. With her kids on break from school she will need food from CUMAC’s pantry to ensure that she can pay her bills this month. Summer recess is a major contributor to the increase in need among low-income families like Vanessa’s. According to a report released this month by Advocates for Children in New Jersey, just 19% of students who receive free or reduced-price lunch are enrolled in summer meal programs. Cities like Paterson offer summer meal sites, but transportation, regulations and outreach remain major barriers for the community, leaving many New Jersey youth at increased risk of hunger.
The meals in question can be costly for struggling families who are already on a tight budget. Paychecks tend to run out long before all the bills have been paid. A recent report from Feeding America estimates that low-income families spend an additional $300 per month on groceries during the summer. Unable to afford extra expenses, thousands of New Jersey families are turning to food pantries to bridge the gap.
“Summer is always one of our most difficult times” says Rev. Pat Bruger, CUMAC Executive Director. “So many families are struggling to afford the food they need.”
Bruger explains that CUMAC staff are happy to serve all who come their way, but summer is particularly difficult because of the limited resources available. Pantry donations last July dropped nearly 25% for Passaic County’s largest food pantry; August was even grimmer. This summer is following a similar pattern and with supplies running low CUMAC staff are concerned that support will not come soon enough, leaving the pantry without enough food to get through the season.
“Our donations drop dramatically and it gets very hard to serve all who come to us” says Bruger. “We don’t ever want to turn anyone away. For our clients this is their last line.”
Lack of school meals may contribute to summer crowds, but increased need has become a year-round trend for anti-hunger groups. CUMAC served over 40,000 people last year from all over Passaic County, the most in its thirty year history, and expects to surpass that number in 2015. Nationwide statistics are even more alarming. A report released by Feeding America earlier this month found that over 8 million pre-senior baby boomers between the ages of 50 and 64 are now receiving pantry services to keep food on the table. For seniors it is over 7 million people.
‘‘The economy may be improving, but not for everyone” says Bruger. “There are many individuals and families still struggling and its every day. Hunger doesn’t take a vacation.”
With food insecurity affecting people of all ages, support from the community is vital, especially during the summer. Individuals, groups and local businesses who want to make a difference can assist CUMAC’s programs by making a donation or holding a food collection this summer. To learn more about CUMAC or ways you can fight hunger visit www.cumacecho.org or call 973-742.5518.
About CUMAC
CUMAC is a 501c3 non-profit organization with multiple programs dedicated to alleviating hunger and poverty in Paterson, Passaic county and beyond. CUMAC’s programs include a food pantry that serves over 3,000 individuals every month, a food depot that handles nearly 2 million pounds of food for a network of over 50 feeding programs, a disaster relief program, a thrift shop that provides high quality, low cost items to the community, the Pathways to Work program that offers job training to those seeking gainful employment, Place of Promise which provides a permanent supportive housing program for the chronically homeless, and the Community Food Coalition, a collection of pantries working together to stop hunger in New Jersey.