Food Pantry Desperately Needs Donations

The Wayne Interfaith Network’s food pantry needs cash and food donations immediately.

The Wayne Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD) informed residetns of the pantry’s needs in an email Wednesday. The food pantry is located at the Wayne YMCA. VOAD was formed in 2011 in the weeks following Tropical Storm Irene. The grassroots non-profit works to coordinate emergency service efforts in the township after a disaster has occurred.

The resident-run food pantry has about $2,000 in cash, the lowest amount it’s ever been, Rev. Karyn Ratcliff said in the e-mail. Volunteers purchase $2,000 worth of ShopRite gift cards a month to help residents.

The pantry’s supply of non-perishable food is also “very low,” Ratcliffe said.

The pantry needs: jam, jelly, coffee, tea, sugar, pancake mix, syrup, canned fruit, canned juices, peanut butter, cereal, canned vegetables, instant milk, small bottles of vegetable oil, canned fruits and meats, macaroni and cheese, mayonnaise, chicken broth, oatmeal, and tuna fish. 

The pantry would like residents to donate ShopRite gift cards worth $10 or $20.

Cash donations will also be accepted.

Gift cards, cash donations, and food may be dropped off at the front desk of the Wayne Y at One Pike Drive. Cash and gift cards may also be dropped off at the Packanack Community Church, 120 Lake Drive East, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday. They can also be mailed to: The Wayne Interfaith Network, P.O. Box 3341, Wayne NJ 07470-3341.