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County Food Bank Wins Humanitarian Award

May 3, 2006 -- Middlesex County Food Organization and Outreach Distribution Services (M.C.F.O.O.D.S.) won the 2006 Monsignor Francis J. Crupi Humanitarian Award for helping make New Brunswick a better place to live.

The Knights of Columbus, Council #257 of New Brunswick, honored the County food bank during its recent Community Awards Night.

“By working closely with county and local officials and individual residents and organizations, M.C.F.O.O.D.S. has fulfilled a vital need in Middlesex County,” said Crupi Award Committee Chairwoman Bridget Stillwell-Kennedy. “This has been accomplished without compromising the independence and integrity of local food pantries and soup kitchens.”

M.C.F.O.O.D.S., founded in 1994 by former Freeholder Jane Brady, is the County’s centralized food collection and distribution service that provides food and a means of communication for the more than 60 food pantries and soup kitchens in Middlesex County. Fifteen New Brunswick pantries are part of the M.C.F.O.O.D.S. network.

In total, the Middlesex County Improvement Authority, which operates M.C.F.O.O.D.S., helped collect an estimated 115 tons of food in 2005.

“We are extremely honored to have received this prestigious award,” said M.C.F.O.O.D.S. Freeholder Liaison Blanquita B. Valenti. “M.C.F.O.O.D.S.’ mission is to provide all residents in need with access to nutritionally adequate food at all times. We are only able to do that with the hard work and dedication of our staff, volunteers and many individual and corporate partners throughout the County. M.C.F.O.O.D.S. truly is a team effort.”

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