Franklin Food Bank’s Barry Gilmore Talks the Need for Volunteers to Help Feed Central Jersey
Joining us this month was Franklin Food Bank Board President Barry Gilmore. I’ve worked with Barry in the past when we introduced Derek Smith as the new Executive Director of the food bank and at one of their community distribution days. Barry swung by the studio to talk about all the things the Franklin Food Bank does for Central Jersey including its upcoming community distribution this Wednesday, June 7th. We also discussed the Food Bank’s need for volunteers, and how you can help.
While we all know (and feel) the effects of rising food costs and supply shortages, the impact in our area is particularly sharp. Consider this sobering statistic: a household in Somerset County needs to bring home at least $118,000 in order to cover basic, minimum expenses. That’s just the basics and it’s still a tight fit. Additionally, inflation is at a 40-year high, their last community distribution had a huge turnout meaning many more people are in need.
Barry reminded us that Community Distribution is one of the three programs of the Franklin Food Bank. In this program, anyone can receive food (generally fresh produce, non-perishables, and beverages) during the hours of the program. It is set up to be a drive-through system where the volunteers and staff pack your trunk with food, however, walk-ups are also welcome. The Franklin Food Bank serves anyone and everyone, with no questions, no means of testing, and no identification required. The next community distribution takes place on the first Wednesday of every month including tomorrow June 7th. Check out Barry’s interview here…
Consider the fact that many who benefit from the Franklin Food Bank are neighbors who are just like you. who may have fallen on some hard times and need a little help to get back on track.
The Franklin Food Bank is located at 224 Churchill Avenue Somerset, NJ 08873, and appointments can be made at 732-246-0009.
Franklin Food Bank: Get help or give help at franklinfoodbank.org
Top 6 Foods That Are Never Finished and Thrown Away
6. Avocados
My daughter loves avocado on toast, so I usually buy these in a six-pack. We usually wasted one of two every week, but it’s better than not having enough. That fits right in with the fact that 17% of all avocados are wasted.
Avocados at a H-Mart grocery store. Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images
5. Bread
Sometimes it’s hard to finish all the bread before it gets moldy. It depends on how many sandwiches the make a week. If the kids have a few days off of school it throws off the whole bread slice weekly estimate.
An exhibitor shows different types of bread during the Bakery Showcase 2023 held at the Vancouver Convention Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on May 14, 2023. (Photo by Liang Sen/Xinhua via Getty Images)
4. Apples
These are really hard to predict each week. Fortunately, apples can be used in several different ways. In a salad, by itself, in a pie, and even in cereal.
Apples for sale at a local market in Taranto, Italy. Photographer: Valeria Mongelli/Bloomberg via Getty Images
3. Milk
OMG, milk! It’s the worst when you drink mild by accident that’s gone bad. If you don’t check the date or give it a smell it can ruin a bowl of cereal or a cup of coffee. There’s also the mistake of buying milk when you already have lots of it. Then you’re looking for ways to drink it up before it gets sour.
Four cartons of various types of milk (Photo by Nate Parsons/The The Washington Post via Getty Images)
2. Bananas
Our family eats a lot of bananas, but we always seem to throw a few out every week. It’s almost the perfect snack! It’s cheap, prewrapped, and lets you know in an obvious way that it’s gone bad.
Bunches of Dole bananas at an H-Mart grocery store. Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images
1. Lettuce
I eat a lot of salad, and I love the salad kits or premade bags of salad. One of the things I appreciate is that the expiration date on those bags is usually spot on. Leftover lettuce from a sliced up head of lettuce is the food that gets wasted the most.
Lettuce grows under artificial lights on an automated growing rack at a Bowery farm in Maryland. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
