“Hunger is not an issue of charity. It is an issue of justice.” —Jacques Diouf
“A hungry man is not a free man.” —Adlai E. Stevenson
“Food is our common ground.” —James Beard
It was difficult for me to choose one quote for this president’s message, as it has been distressing for me to continue to hear about food insecurity. Food insecurity leads to so much heartache for families. Regardless of party affiliation, it touches us all in one way or another. None of us wants to see our neighbors go without enough food. There are reported increases in food bank lines, and now, with the stop and potential decrease in SNAP benefits, many will go without the necessities of life.
It is for this reason that I would like to make the food pantries a priority for our November meeting. Please consider filling a grocery bag for either the Dream Center or the Colonial Manor pantry. I’ve also been hearing that while cereal is great, families also need milk to go with it. Boxes of mac and cheese are great, but butter and milk are necessary to mix them. There are great boxed milk options on the grocery shelves, and sometimes healthy oil can be used as a substitute for butter. Canned soups, canned vegetables, peanut butter, jelly, and any canned meats are great options.
As we near the holiday season, your club will give money through the school for three families to have a Thanksgiving meal. We also give money to the high school guidance office for a program called Operation Blessing. This program allows families to shop for gifts for their children during the holiday. For those of you who are new to our club, this is money that came from our 2024 basket raffle and internal fundraisers. We vote as a club on how to spend it, and this is just one way we give to our community every year.
Awards and Technology
Congratulations to Denise H. for winning first place for the NJSFWC website at the National Convention. We are so lucky to have someone in our club who is good at technology. Denise manages our club communications, Facebook and Instagram accounts, our club website, and our club newsletter. All are critical functions for attracting new members and keeping current members informed. Denise is looking for someone who can join her committee and help with some of the functions. She is willing to train and supervise. What a wonderful way to learn new skills!
Meeting Locations
This is a reminder that we will meet at RiverWinds one more time this year for the November meeting. December is our holiday dinner meeting, and in January 2026, we will meet on Zoom. Beginning in February 2026, we will be meeting at the Middle School Library. The MS Library can accommodate our growing needs, and we are very appreciative to have it at no cost. We can still use RiverWinds for special projects if space is available.
In Federation friendship,
Janice