Fundraising Food Drive Restocks Shelves At Local Pantry

By Cheryl Conway

In a recent joint effort between the Mt. Olive Food Pantry and the Romano’s Macaroni Grill in Budd Lake, more than $600 was raised and plenty of food donations.

The Fundraiser Night Benefiting Partners In Compassion was held during the week of July 12 through July 17. Customers, who brought in a canned food item and code from the flyer to participate, were eligible to have a percentage of their check allocated to the local food pantry.

Sue Morse of Hackettstown, volunteer administrator for the Mt. Olive Pantry, says “I would like to express my gratitude for all those who participated in this event. The employees also contributed.”

Macaroni Grill was able to contribute 15 percent of each or the participating customers’ checks, which totaled $640, said Madior Khoussa, service manager at Macaroni Grill.

As far as food donations, Morse says she estimated that “we collected between $200 – $300 in actual food donations.”

While the shelves at the food pantry are more plentiful than before the fundraiser, Morse says “the pantry will continue to be in need. We are seeing more new people for the pantry.”

Morse says, “Non-perishable food donations can be dropped off at the pantry itself; there is a drop box right next to the pantry door. Or they can mail in a contribution to the Mt. Olive Pantry, 6 Nauright Rd, Hackettstown, NJ, 07840.

The pantry has been located at Christ Episcopal Church in Budd Lake since May 2014, with its business location at Mountain Top Church in Budd Lake. Before that, the pantry was operated out of town hall.

For more information and hours, call the food pantry at 862-251-3928 or visit its Facebook page.