By Mayor Mike Todd
One of the greatest things about Robbinsville is the way our community comes together to help those who need it most.
On Oct. 13 at The Stone Terrace by John Henry’s came a powerful reminder that behind every act of generosity is a neighbor who cares and a community that refuses to leave anyone behind.
I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who helped us raise more than $40,000 toward expanding the Robbinsville Food Pantry as part of our State of the Township/Pay it Forward event. This was about more than growing into a new space. It was about making sure our neighbors and families have access to the food they need and the support they deserve.
Our vision for the new and improved food pantry is to relocate it from the Senior Center to our former municipal building at 2298 Route 33 by using the space once occupied by the Clerk’s Office.
This will allow us to install refrigeration units for fresh food, fruits and vegetables and provide easier public access. The plan also includes the purchase of additional shelving and storage so we can stock more of the pantry’s most-requested items.
Most people don’t think of food insecurity when they think of Robbinsville.
Yet, it is here, affecting millions of people every year. As a nation, we produce plenty of food, but many families still lack the money or resources to buy enough of it.
As our incredible emcee, Jeannine Cimino of Township Trailblazer sponsor Mid-Penn Bank, said in her opening remarks, data from the Economic Research Service shows that 13.7% of U.S. households, representing close to 50 million Americans, experience food insecurity. Eight percent of that population are children.
Food insecurity means there is either limited or uncertain access to adequate food.
According to the latest data, 20% of these households earn more than $75,000 a year, with families making $100,000 a year reporting missing or skipping meals. That is mainly due to expensive mortgages, high tax burdens and cumulative inflation, among other factors.
Demand at many New Jersey food pantries is higher now than during the peak of the pandemic, and those numbers are simply unacceptable.
Middle-income families do use local charitable food distribution centers, and they should do so without shame or stigma.
That is why programs such as NJ SNAP and organizations like the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen and former Pay it Forward recipient Mercer Street Friends play such a vital role in helping us make a dent in this problem.
Food banks serve as vital lifelines in New Jersey, supporting more than 1.2 million residents, including more than 330,000 children who face hunger and food insecurity.
Thank you to everyone who donated, sponsored and supported this effort and to former Mayor Dave Fried for creating a tradition that, some $650,000 later, continues to bring out the best in our community. I’m proud to carry it forward and even prouder to serve a town filled with people who genuinely care about one another.
Congratulations to Joyce and Gordon Thomas on receiving this year’s Pay it Forward Awards. Their years of dedication and compassion have made a tremendous difference in the lives of our neighbors.
Thank you to all the residents, local businesses and municipal employees for sticking with us during this transition, trusting us and, most of all, for doing your part to keep Robbinsville special.
Most of all, thank you for helping to make my first year as mayor one of the most enjoyable, challenging and rewarding experiences of my life.
Mike Todd is the mayor and director of public safety of Robbinsville Township.
