CBS News New York's Annual Turkey Drive for Community Food Bank of New Jersey

Season of Giving Turkey Drive

• 🤝 CBS News New York partnered with the Community Food Bank of New Jersey for their fourth annual Turkey Drive.
• 📍 Teams were stationed at Acme Markets in Edgewater, Smart World Coffee in Denville, and ShopRite in Livingston to collect donations.
• 🎯 The primary goal was to curb food insecurity and ensure families have Thanksgiving meals.

Addressing Food Insecurity

• 📈 Food insecurity has significantly increased, with a 65% rise in Essex County since 2020.
• 🧒 Heartbreakingly, 21% of those food insecure in Essex County are children.
• 💰 Donations of frozen turkeys, non-perishable goods, boxed meals, pasta, and cereal are crucial.

Community Engagement and Generosity

• 🚗 Donors traveled from various towns, including Parsippany and Westchester County, to contribute.
• 🚴 A group of cyclists from Cycle Craft rode 25 miles, some with turkeys, to support the drive.
• 🎁 Incentives like raffle tickets for a 50-inch TV and free sausage sliders from a food truck were offered at some locations.

Impact and Reach of the Food Bank

• 🦃 Over 5,000 turkeys and 63,000 pounds of food were collected during the drive last year.
• 🌍 The Community Food Bank of New Jersey distributes 90 million meals annually.
• 💸 Financial donations are also vital, with every dollar providing three nutritious meals.

Year-Round Support and Mascot Reveal

• 🗓️ The need for donations and volunteers extends beyond the holiday season, operating 365 days a year.
• 🥕 The event featured the reveal of the Community Food Bank of New Jersey's new mascot, Rudy, a heart-shaped carrot.
• 🤝 The partnership between CBS News New York and the food bank highlights the importance of community service and neighborly support.