NEIGHBORHOOD CONNECTIONS TO HEALTH (NCTH) HOSTS FULFILL’S MOBILE PANTRY AT THE VNA CHILDREN & FAMILY HEALTH INSTITUTE

On July 31, 2019 over 80 families received groceries through Fulfill’s Mobile Food Pantry, hosted by NCTH in Freehold Borough. The Mobile Food Pantry was parked in front of the Children & Family Health Institute (CFHI) right next to the new Freehold Health Center, located at 597 Park Avenue. With the intention of assisting those underserved in the Freehold Borough, this event was a collaborative success. This event was made possible with our partnerships and volunteers from Fulfill, VNA CFHI, VNACJ, CHC. CentraState, CARC, Acelero, were so instrumental in this process.

NCTH’s Access to Healthy Food Committee’s main focus, is improving health through nutrition. This Committee convenes partners and residents of Freehold to make healthy food available and affordable for those who need it. Fulfill (formerly known as the Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties) has been at the table with this Committee since day one. The Committee has hopes of establishing a mobile pantry program of their own one day, and until last week, there has been no starting point. Through a partnership with Fulfill, NCTH will be able to host the Mobile Pantry each month and form a better understanding of how to best serve the community. The next date of the pantry will be August 28^th, from 2:00-3:30pm, again, at 597 Park Avenue, Freehold NJ in front of the Children & Family Health Institute. Fulfill’s Mobile Pantry – a van fully stocked with fresh groceries and accompanied by 2 staff members– is provided completely free of charge. All that’s needed is a host site, additional volunteers, and people to shop! In the weeks leading up to the event, partners must pool efforts to advertise so that those who need the pantry know where/when to find it!