MANUFACTURING CARES EXCEEDS 2 MILLION MEALS IN 2023 

Thanks to Industry Support and Partnerships, the Manufacturing Cares Initiative Meets Goal 

What is Manufacturing Cares? 

Over 1 million New Jersey residents face hunger annually, with a significant portion being children. Manufacturing Cares aims to provide an efficient way for New Jersey’s manufacturing companies to collaborate, enhancing their reach and impact, and showcasing the strength and unity of the state’s manufacturing network. Each dollar donated to the Manufacturing Cares Food Drive initiative translates into three meals for those in need. 

Exceeding 2 Million Meals in 2023 

For the past decade, the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program (NJMEP) has partnered with manufacturers and community partners like CIANJ, NJBIA, Employment Horizons, Provident Bank, DBD Partners, and others to support New Jersey’s food-insecure population through ‘Manufacturing Cares.’ This initiative benefits the Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ). In 2023, NJMEP achieved the ambitious goal of raising $20,000 for the Manufacturing CARES Food Drive, resulting in over 2 million meals served. Notably, each dollar donated to CFBNJ provides three meals, aiding nearly one million food-insecure New Jerseyans, including many children. With support from NJMEP’s clients and partners, Manufacturing Cares has contributed over 60,000 meals in 2023, and over 2 million meals to date. 

Manufacturing Cares depends on the sustained support of the manufacturing sector. Food and Beverage manufacturers have made significant contributions over the years. We encourage all businesses to join this cause. Please inform the NJMEP team about your participation, as it could lead to features in industry magazines like Manufacturing Matters, the NJMEP Blog, and other partner publications. 

Food for Today, Help for Tomorrow, and Hope for the Future 

Despite achieving the goal last year, the need persists. In 2022, the Community Foodbank of New Jersey provided 85 million nutritious meals (equivalent to 35 million pounds of produce) to those in need. Alarmingly, many recipients are children, with 1.2 million meals directed towards feeding hungry kids. 

Every contribution can make a significant impact on the lives of many New Jersey residents. Hunger, particularly among children, remains a pressing issue. The collective effort of New Jersey’s manufacturing sector offers our neighbors essential food for today, assistance for tomorrow, and hope for the future. The 2023 donation link is still live, contributions to the food bank are still welcome.