Overview
In one of the country’s wealthiest states, one in nine New Jersey residents struggle with consistent access to healthy food. Food insecurity can be driven by a lack of transportation in neighborhoods without well-stocked grocery stores or by financial constraints that force individuals to prioritize essential costs, such as utilities and medication, over fresh produce.
Our final Standing in Solidarity event of the season will discuss how to alleviate the growing crisis in feeding N.J. residents and will highlight the agility of local organizations who strive to meet the community’s needs. The program includes a screening of Just Eat It: A Food Waste Story, the PSEG Foundation Social Impact film.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a shelf-stable item for a food drive to benefit Growing Healthy Pantries. Recommended items include canned fish, meat, vegetables and fruit, shelf stable milk, pasta, cereal, rice and peanut butter (plastic jars only).
Doors open at 5PM. Come early for samples of food made from locally-grown ingredients prepared by Newark Science and Sustainability, Inc. Browse resource tables from organizations including Center for Food Action, Newark Water Coalition, Plant It NJ, Tree House Cares, United Airlines and more!
In partnership with Dodge Poetry, our program will open with Brittany Barker, an award-winning poet, educator and Executive Director of Creative Soul House.
Our panel will be moderated by Jasmyne Beckford, Director of Inclusive Communities at Prudential Financial.
Our panelists include:
Bryan Barros, Program Associate at pantry+ at Rutgers University–Newark
Nicole Davis, Executive Director of the Center for Food Action
Tobias A. Fox, Founder and Managing Director of Newark Science and Sustainability, Inc. and Facilitator of the Newark Community Food System (NCFS)
Dr. Nicole Harris-Hollingsworth, EdD, MCHES, Senior Vice President, Social Determinants & Impact, Hackensack Meridian Health
Plus, corporate leadership from Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.
This free event, sponsored in part by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and Hackensack Meridian Health, is part of the fourth annual North to Shore Festival running June 13 – 28 in Newark and Asbury Park. A portion of all ticket sales will directly benefit Growing Healthy Pantries — a statewide collaborative that addresses food security in partnership with New Jersey’s five primary food banks, supporting more than 1,000 local pantries across all 21 counties.
This event is also supported by Prudential Financial and United Airlines.
