photo by Rurik Halaby
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood Nj, during the Wednesday nights Village Council meeting a proclamation was read to honor Feeds the Frontlines. Feed the Frontlines – Helping Those In Need Initiative began as a call-to-action to provide ready-to-eat meals prepared by local Ridgewood restaurants to first responders, community groups and people in need during the pandemic. During the height of the pandemic in Spring 2020, it was an organized way for people to help feed local healthcare workers, first responders and people in need while supporting local restaurants who have been hit hard economically. This initiative earned the volunteer leadership team the 2021 NJ Governor’s Jefferson Award for volunteer program in September 2021.
Based on the generosity of the public and the success of the initial program, The HealthBarn Foundation was awarded $1M for 100,000 meals from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s (NJEDA) Sustain and Serve Grant in February 2021 to feed those in need in Ridgewood and in Bergen County, NJ. Our mission continued to build momentum to support local restaurants while making sure the most vulnerable populations in Bergen County had delicious, nutritious hot meals on their tables. The incredibly successful program concluded with heavy hearts in June 2021 as our team knew that the hunger need was not resolved for so many. The team received U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer”s Fifth District Hometown Heroes Award in July 2021.
NJEDA announced Phase 2 funding for the Sustain and Serve Grant, and HealthBarn Foundation was awarded $2M for 200,000 meals to continue our good works going. Feed the Frontlines – Helping Those in Need powered up again in September 2021 to purchase, hot, nutritious meals meals from local restaurants, driven by a fleet of 400 volunteer drivers to 29 food pantries and organizations throughout Bergen County and Paterson, NJ through March 31, 2022. NJEDA announced Phase 3 of Sustain & Serve grant funding in February 2022.
In public comments Jeanne Johnson gave an impassioned acknowledgement of all the 20 village restaurants partners and volunteers involved in the initiative . According to Johnson $3.1 million was pored in to Ridgewood restaurants feeding over 300,000 Bergen county residents and brining together over 500 volunteers who delivered meals 7 days a week for close to 42 weeks . Johnson went on to name some of the most prolific volunteers, starting with Mary Meekun and Wayne Englebeck who delivered 4135 meals , Cynthis and Rurik Halaby who delivered 4130 meals Mark Cantor who delivered 3070 meals . The top thre bulk drivers were Frank Delvecchio who deliver 7580 meals , Anthony Romano who delivered 3790 meals and Tim and Jack Kane 3803 meals. Jennifer Williams coordinated a great team of schedulers Ann Dupont, Brab Crowe Jill Feeney and Mary Tagliabu working with Joan Groom and Karen Huges.
Paulie V and Raymoan. Perfect democrat plants together
Did Paulie vote to honor himself?