Asw. Yvonne Lopez, NJ First Lady Tammy Murphy,
YMCA CEO & President Steve Jobin
7/21/20 *Photos by Paul W. Wang
Press Release
PERTH AMBOY – For years the Y along with trusted partners have been focused on creating long-term, equitable change in Perth Amboy. Our coalition, called Healthier Perth Amboy (HPA), has examined policies, procedures, and environmental concerns that could be altered or changed to benefit our community. We are a network of nonprofits, healthcare centers, school-based representatives, city officials, and faith-based groups with the mission of providing the resources and tools necessary for every resident to reach their desired level of health.
Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has devastated our city. We are second highest in both illness and death, closely behind a neighboring town with roughly twice our population. We realize that we cannot only focus on long term change if our residents are now jobless and struggling to put food on the table. Therefore, we have expanded our focus to also provide direct needs, particularly access to quality food.
Each week we have two food distributions here at the Y in Perth Amboy. Fresh produce is delivered in boxes from the Seashore Fruit & Produce Company in partnership with the NJ YMCA State Alliance, The Common Market in partnership with Hackensack Meridian Health and Sodexo, as well as the New Jersey Community Food Bank. Our partners from God’s Army Ministries as well as YMCA staff and volunteers help distribute boxes, serving over 800 families a week. Healthier Perth Amboy partners such as the City of Perth Amboy, PARTNER, JRF, Cathedral International, and PRAHD often pick up boxes to distribute directly to families that lack transportation. The Perth Amboy Board of Education, a member of HPA, distributes meals, at several sites daily. Our partners also work in concert with local food pantries. Overall, we are continuously working on improving this system to ensure that no family is left behind.
NJ First Lady Tammy Murphy, Mayor Wilda Diaz &
Councilman Helmin Caba distribute food
According to Darrin Anderson, Darrin Anderson, Sr., PhD, MS, Executive Director/CEO, NEW JERSEY YMCA STATE ALLIANCE, “New Jersey YMCAs are doing their part to support families and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through partnerships with The Community Food Bank of NJ & Seashore Produce Dist. Co., YMCAs have distributed almost 30,000 boxes of fresh produce and 12,000 boxes of shelf-stable foods to families in need. Addressing food insecurity is part of our mission, and we aim to leave no family hungry.”
Food distribution is provided in conjunction with services for our homeless residents, of which we have opened our doors to provide showers and a hot meal twice a week since the shelter in place order. As the Y opens up we will continue to provide these services at the Center for Support, a Y-funded program focused on ensuring a path to self-sufficiency and behavioral health services for the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless.
Healthier Perth Amboy will continue to provide direct services to our community and lead our road back. We are proud of our work so far but know we could not have this much success without the support and collaboration of Healthier Perth Amboy partners.
At A Glance: Number of Distribution Dates: 16; Number of cases of produce distributed: 4800; Value of produce: $144,000; Number of people served: 19,000+
