Each month, New Jersey Monthly features an online roundup of photos taken at various charitable events across the Garden State. This month, we decided to focus on all the ways New Jersey has been giving back in the age of Covid-19. We also featured the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, an organization that has worked around the clock to make sure our most vulnerable residents don’t go hungry, in our May issue.
As always, be sure to send pictures and captions from your recent charitable event to [email protected] for possible inclusion next month.
1. Free Disinfecting Service for First Responders
Photo courtesy of All American Restoration
Over 500 police, fire and first aid vehicles from Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Belmar, Freehold, Manasquan, Neptune City, Red Bank, Sea Bright, Sea Girt and more received a complimentary coronavirus disinfecting from All American Restoration. The company has been donating several days a week to perform this service to give back to the local first responders in Monmouth County.
2. Samba Montclair Donates Meals, Sends Notes of Encouragement
Photo courtesy of charitable organization
Ilson Goncalves, chef/owner of Samba Montclair, donated 50 meals to Toni’s Kitchen in Montclair. Each meal consisted of either grilled chicken or tilapia, local vegetables, rice and beans. Bags were garnished with Samba’s signature encouraging messages: “You’re amazing,” “Live the moment,” and “Enjoy the little things.”
3. Feeding Frontline Workers
Photo courtesy of Benares
Benares restaurant owner Inder Singh and general manager Ranbir Bhatia partnered with the Oakland Care Center, the police department and ambulance services of Franklin Lakes, and Valley Hospital of Ridgewood to deliver 93 classic Indian meals.
4. Supporting ER Staff at Monmouth Medical Center
Photo courtesy of charitable organization
LeTip of Red Bank members raised $380 and delivered 22 sandwiches, 10 salads and five pizzas to the ER staff at Monmouth Medical Center on April 15. The Eatontown EMS squad made the delivery. Pictured: EMTs Isabelle Soares and Thomas Notaro with Vito Ruffino, owner of Ruffino’s Italian Restaurant in Eatontown.
5. Meals for Healthcare Heroes
Photo courtesy of charitable organization
Lodi-based Live Love Dance Entertainment and Live.Love.Dance Children’s Charity came together to feed healthcare heroes at Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack. Food was from Bagel Brunch in Passaic, Pupusa Loca in Paterson, Mama Ana’s Empanadas in Totowa, and Steve Burgers in Garfield.
6. CBFNJ Feeds Those In Need
Photo courtesy of charitable organization
On April 28, volunteers from the Community FoodBank of New Jersey gathered at Branch Brook Park in Newark to distribute boxes of emergency food supplies to over 2,000 families who have been forced out of work and are not able to purchase food as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. The emergency food boxes provided contained enough food for 40 meals and consisted of a variety of non-perishable items including cornmeal, oatmeal, rice, fruit, peanut butter, jelly, shelf stable milk and canned vegetables, chili, soup and ravioli.
7. D’Artagnan Donates 44,000 Pounds of Meat
Photo courtesy of D’Artagnan
North Jersey-based D’Artagnan donated 44,000 pounds of meat worth $430,000 to Table to Table, a food rescue group in Hasbrouck Heights.