N.J. food pantries get state money early

Gov. Corzine released nearly $1 million yesterday to New Jersey's six emergency food-distribution operations ahead of schedule to ease food shortages at pantries statewide.

The $987,500 was to have been distributed at the end of the month and is $217,500 more than originally planned.

The Food Bank of South Jersey in Pennsauken received nearly $145,000, the second-largest amount given.

"It's indeed difficult for folks right now," said Martha Buccino, senior vice president of Philabundance, the region's largest hunger-relief organization.

Philabundance has 250,000 pounds less food available now than it did this time last year, Buccino said. And its distribution centers in Pennsylvania and South Jersey have had a 58 percent increase in people seeking services, she said.

"They're seeing people that they've not seen before and some of these folks, they are clearly working people and they are families," Buccino said.

The need for food assistance will likely increase in the winter. "It's going to be a question of heat or eat," Buccino said. "Families will cut back on food rather than cut back on heat."

Supply shortages have caused some food pantries in the state to shut down, Corzine said yesterday. He made his emergency-funding announcement at a pantry in Passaic County that shut down temporarily for the first time in 30 years due to a dwindling supply of food.

Food banks statewide have had a 30 percent increase in the number of families seeking aid, the governor said in a statement. Supplies are down 19 percent compared with last year.

Yesterday's distribution was part of Corzine's Hunger Initiative, which is administered by the state Department of Agriculture. The department sends money to nearly 700 food banks and pantries through the State Food Purchase Program.