EWING, NJ (June 6, 2022) Mercer Street Friends Food Bank, which serves Mercer County, had three trucks vandalized and catalytic converters stolen over the Memorial Day weekend. The trucks are essential in the battle against food insecurity and are used daily, picking up over 50,000 pounds of dry goods, produce, meat, bakery, and dairy products each month and delivering to over 100 partners throughout Trenton and Mercer County.
After the theft was discovered Tuesday morning and other New Jersey Food Bank leaders learned what happened, they immediately offered assistance. The Community FoodBank of New Jersey has loaned Mercer Street Friends a box truck and the Food Bank of South Jersey has provided a large van. The same day, this kind of emergency response became the first topic of conversation at the previously scheduled New Jersey Food Bank CEO meeting.
“These vehicles will allow Mercer Street Friends to continue to deliver food to our partner agencies in Mercer County,” said Mercer Street Friends CEO Bernie Flynn. “We are extremely grateful to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey and the Food Bank of South Jersey for their prompt response to our plight and we appreciate the strong collaboration we enjoy not only with them but with NORWESCAP and Fulfill Food Banks, enabling Food Bank coverage across the entire state of New Jersey and knowing they all have Mercer County’s back when needed.”
“The Food Bank of South Jersey understands the position Mercer Street Friends is in since we experienced a similar situation a few months ago. It is a challenge you don’t expect to face, but we are glad we could assist a partner food bank in a time of need to ensure daily operations continued,” said Fred Wasiak, President and CEO of the Food Bank of South Jersey.
