January 21, 2016
The Madison Rotary Club and Foundation is seeking the community’s support of their recently announced End Hunger 3.6 Project of 2016. The number 3.6 indicates that every 3.6 seconds, someone dies of malnutrition or starvation. The project’s goal is to prepare and package between 100,000 – 150,000 meals to be distributed to various non-profit, hunger-focused organizations throughout New Jersey and New York City.
The number of people who go hungry and who are in need of assistance in finding a meal in the New Jersey and New York City area continues to rise. In New Jersey alone, the number of people living below the poverty level is over one million. One in 5 children in New Jersey is hungry and relying on food stamps to provide daily meals. In New York City, a record number of homeless shelters to accommodate over 60,000 individuals, including 25,000 children was set in 2014.
The agencies currently identified as recipients of the packaged meals are the New Jersey Salvation Army; The Table of Hope and the Market Street Mission in Morristown; Eva’s Village in Paterson; St. John’s Soup Kitchen in Newark; and the Bowery Mission in New York City. Combined they represent over forty sites, in NJ and NYC, that will feed and provide food to the hungry.
The project will take place on Saturday, April 16 in Madison at St. Vincent Martyr Church’s gymnasium. The one-day event will require more than 400 volunteers from other Rotary Clubs, churches, colleges, and community organizations.
The project needs financial support. The cost per meal is only 25 cents. Every dollar donated will provide four meals. The Madison Rotary Foundation is seeking support from individuals, corporations, foundations, and other Rotary Clubs. The more money raised, the more meals can be provided.
The Madison Rotary Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization. Please help us feed the hungry and homeless among us. Tax-deductible contributions may be sent to Madison Rotary Club Foundation, P.O. Box 211, Madison, NJ 07940, or visit: www.madisonrotarynj.org.
For further information on this project or becoming a volunteer, please contact Ellsworth Havens, Chair, End Hunger 3.6 at ellsworthhavens@icloud.com.