Food drives are pretty common throughout America, but one New Jersey charity has put a unique spin on the process, and it’s proving to be more successful than anyone could have imagined.
According to the Hudson Reporter, a charity called Move for Hunger is affording moving companies the opportunity to donate non-perishables left behind in the homes they work in to less fortunate families throughout the state.
Move for Hunger was developed by a public relations specialist named Ashley George from Jersey City. She was inspired to find a way to deliver food found by moving companies to those who really need it.
“My friend and I started this charity back in 2009 in Neptune,” George said. “His family owns a moving company and noticed a lot of food going to waste over the years, and that is what spawned the idea of Move For Hunger. Today, we are working with over 600 relocation companies across the US and have collected over five million pounds of food for those in need.”
Move For Hunger is a 501c3 non-profit organization that teams up with relocation companies to systematize food donations by reallocating unused non-perishables to local food banks.
About two-thirds of Americans between the ages of 18-29 say they relocated within the past five years, and it’s no surprise that so many non-perishables tend to get left behind. Moving can be quite stressful, and canned goods are typically the last thing on a person’s mind.
Thankfully, George’s organization has found a way to deliver these perfectly-good food items to those who really need it. There are over 50 million Americans who don’t know where their next meal will come from, and one in five children go to bed hungry each night.
According to NorthJersey.com, Move for Hunger isn’t the only charity in New Jersey that’s fighting to end hunger within the state.
Verona Fights Hunger Week is back this year after an incredibly successful inaugural event in 2014. Organized by the Verona Junior Woman’s Club, the event combines over 20 local food drives into one singular “super-sized food drive.”
Last year alone, Verona Fights Hunger Week received 800 bags of food from members of the community, and the organization is planning for even more this year.
As for Move for Hunger, Ashley George says the charity accepts donations year round. Since its inception, Move for Hunger has donated 407,664 pounds of food to local food banks, providing a staggering 339,720 meals.
