For the sixth year in a row, Prominent Properties Sotheby's International Realty (PPSIR) held a massive food drive to help provide meals to their neighbors in need. From October 15 through December 31, all 12 PPSIR offices in Northern and Central New Jersey collected donations of peanut butter, tuna, canned fruit/vegetables, pasta, and other non-perishable items to fight hunger in the communities they serve.
Although New Jersey is one of the most affluent states in the country, there are still more than 900,000 residents, including 1 in 8 children, who are considered food insecure. And, according to the Center For Food Action, one-third of these residents earn too much to qualify for nutrition assistance programs. Many of those families rely on food banks/pantries to help make ends meet.
Which is exactly why food drives, like this one, are so important. The 12 PPSIR offices collected more than 2,700 lbs. of food this year - that's enough to provide 2,250 meals! Since 2013, PPSIR has donated more than 73,000 lbs. of non-perishables to their local food bank.
“With so many people in our community who need our help, it is essential that we do whatever we can to assist them,” said Charles Oppler, Co-Owner of Prominent Properties Sotheby’s International Realty. “No member of our community should suffer from food insecurity and it’s an honor to be a part of the solution for such a noble cause."
None of it would have been possible without the help of All Season Movers, an Atlas Van Lines agent, Ridgewood Moving Services, a Bekins agent, and Main Street Movers, also a Bekins agent. Not only did these socially-responsible moving companies provide boxes for food drive, they also volunteered to pick up and deliver all of the donations to the food banks.
It's going to take more than a food drive to solve a problem as pervasive as hunger -- we're going to need policies that address poverty and inequality to do that. But, in the meantime, we can all do something to provide a helping hand to someone in need. Check out our take action page to learn more about how you can join the fight.
