A few weeks ago, I was listening to the news on “1010 WINS” and I was, at first, surprised to hear a story about growing “food insecurity” here in New Jersey. After hearing the story, I did some research and spoke with Hazel Yaptangco, Development Director of our Diocesan Catholic Charities. Hazel shared with me some recent statistics from the 2024 New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate report, which provides comprehensive statewide data and can be found at NJ Office of the Food Security Advocate.
The report’s key findings reveal the scope of this challenge in our state:
- Over 994,000 New Jersey residents experienced food insecurity in 2022, representing a 10.7% food insecurity rate (compared to 13.5% nationally)
- Children are disproportionately affected, with over 263,000 young people under 18 (13.2%) experiencing food insecurity
- Significant racial disparities exist, with Black individuals (21.0%) and Latino/Hispanic individuals (20.0%) experiencing food insecurity at more than three times the rate of white individuals (6.0%)
- The crisis is worsening, with food insecurity rates rising from 8.7% to 10.7% overall, and from 11.3% to 13.2% among children between 2018 and 2022
I found additional information at the “Feeding America” website which states:
“Get the facts about hunger in New Jersey
Though many of us may not realize the grave disparities that exist in our own communities, people face hunger in every county and congressional district in New Jersey. They could be our neighbors, kids in our children’s classes – the possibilities go on.”
In one of his first addresses, our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, emphasized the importance of expanding awareness of the poor to foster dialogue. According to the Holy Father, drawing close to the poor is an invitation to “to encounter and listen to the poor, who are a treasure for the church and for humanity.” For those of us who are aware of the work and ministry of Catholic Charities here in our Diocese of Paterson, the “news” of “food insecurity” (sadly) is not surprising. Our local church of Paterson has a long history of the loving encounter with the poor. Our Catholic Charities efforts are committed to both seeing the poor and listening carefully to their concerns, always respecting the human dignity of each person as a child of God.
Each year, our Diocesan Ministries Appeal supports the wide variety of ministries and services offered daily by the many “branches” of Catholic Charities. Providing food and other support is just one part of the daily ministry of Catholic Charities. Under the leadership of Carlos Roldan, Director of Food Pantries, and the Father English Community Center, Catholic Charities provides food distribution programs in each of the three counties (Passaic, Morris, and Sussex) of our Diocese. The largest of those efforts is the Father English Food Pantry in the City of Paterson, which has been in a temporary location for the past ten months. It has been as busy or busier in the temporary location (near St. Joseph’s Hospital). We are looking forward to the opening of the newly renovated Pantry and Resource center in the coming months. For more information on these efforts and programs, please go to ccpaterson.org.
One very important way that the people and parishes of our Diocese support the efforts of Catholic Charities to be able to offer food to those in need is our annual Corpus Christi Food Drive. On the weekend of June 21-22, as the Church celebrates the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi), we will have our 12th AnnualCorpus Christi Food Drive. I have said before that it was a truly “inspired” decision by Bishop Arthur Serratelli, our Bishop Emeritus; Scott Milliken, CEO of Catholic Charities; and other Diocesan Leaders to have a Diocesan-wide Food Drive on the Feast of Corpus Christi. As we give thanks for the “Real Presence” of the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus in the Gift of the Eucharist, the Food Drive gives us a wonderful opportunity to fulfill the words and advice of St. Augustine, who, when he spoke about receiving Jesus in Holy Communion, said: “Be what you see; receive what you are.” You can read the full text of that beautiful Sermon (homily) here.
For more information on the 12th Annual Corpus Christi Food Drive – and to see what particular items your parish is being asked to donate, you can go here.
As Bishop, to see the “Parish Wish List” items on the Catholic Charities website and to see each of our 107 parishes in our three counties taking part in this effort fills me with gratitude, as I am aware of the generosity of our parishioners, pastors, priests, religious, deacons, youth groups, leaders and staff of our parishes and of Catholic Charities, as well as countless volunteers who “advertise” and solicit donations, collect, organize, and deliver the donated food and other items, I am filled with great HOPE. Yes, we are called to be Pilgrims of Hope in this Jubilee of Hope. Our Corpus Christi Food Drive is also a wonderful way to participate in the Jubilee.
I ask every reader to consider how you may be able to help, volunteer, and/or donate to make this year’s Corpus Christi Food Drive as successful as possible. As we hear the news of growing food insecurity, we realize the importance and necessity of doing what we can to assist those in need. In this effort, we must remember that we are responding to the needs of our Lord Jesus, who identifies with “the least” of our sisters and brothers, those who are most in need:
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, … Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? … And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’ ”
(Mt. 25: 31-40)
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