A reimagined March Mega Food Drive addresses food insecurity.

(Courtesy of JFNNJ) When the pandemic forced all in-person gatherings in our community to end, Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey had to reimagine its hallmark community event to address food insecurity. Traditionally, the March Mega Food Drive is a month-long collection of food with collection sites all over the community. Then, hundreds of people would gather to sort the food for local food pantries. In addition, “snack packs” would be packed for kids who experience hunger insecurity on the weekends.

This year, the needs for filling food pantries and providing snack packs has grown exponentially.

According to Shara Nadler, manager, Volunteer Center, “This community has incredible compassion for those less fortunate. As soon as we started the food drive, the collection bins filled and it hasn’t stopped to this day—day schools, synagogues and individuals passionately committed to collecting food for 14 different food pantries.”

In total, Federation expects to donate 10,000 pounds of food.

Mid March, Federation launched the “Blue Bag Challenge.” Over a thousand bags were distributed in the community and the conference rooms at Federation are filled to the brim with blue bags.

According to Jason Shames, Federation CEO, “We are thrilled with the response from the community. This pop-up concept has been extraordinarily successful—by the end of March we will have done more than 100 all over the community.”