The cost of a holiday meal is up dramatically this year. The price of turkeys has increased by 23%, and holiday meal staples like eggs, butter, and flour will cost you more.
To help feed our families this holiday season, we have launched #BetterTogether Season of Giving. For this campaign, we partnered with community organizations to raise money, awareness, and food.
OUR PARTNERS
NY Common Pantry
In December, we announced our partnership with the NY Common Pantry in their effort to fight food insecurity.
New York Common Pantry opened its doors in 1980 serving 30 families. Now the community-based food pantry serves more than 500,000 people annually.
They work to reduce hunger and food insecurity by offering programs to help those they serve with everything from fresh food to housing and educational resources.
To learn more about the organization, including where you can make a donation, volunteer and more, CLICK HERE.
Community Food Bank of New Jersey
We kicked off the month of November with our partners the Community Food Bank of New Jersey. The Community Food Bank of New Jersey's mission is to fight hunger and poverty in New Jersey by assisting those in need and seeking long term solutions. CFBNJ engages, educated and empowers all sectors of society in the battle. Working together with volunteers, donors and their many partners, CFBNJ works to fill the emptiness caused by hunger with food, help and hope.
To learn more about the organization, including many locations where you can make a donation, volunteer and more, CLICK HERE.
#BetterTogether: Celebrate the season
These organizations were featured in some of our favorite stories about people coming together, working together and making a difference in our communities.
Click on them to learn more!
- Community Food Bank of New Jersey
- New York Common Pantry
- Project First Day
- I Will Graduate
- Coastal Preservation Network
- Operation Splash
- A Chef's Contribution
- Dinner With Strangers
- Coat Drive
- Safe Streets: Saturday Night Lights and Operation H.O.O.D.
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
- Buddy Walk
- Lupus Walk
- The Valerie Fund
- Lustgarten Foundation
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
- Bike MS
- Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure
- AIDS Walk New York
- March For Babies
CBS2 teams up with New York Common Pantry for food drive
On Saturday, CBS2 continued our commitment to give back to the community this holiday season by volunteering at three New York Common Food Pantry locations across the city.
CBS holiday elves helped pack bags of food for needy families at food pantries in Queens, the Bronx and East Harlem.
"We want everyone to know that we're here to serve them," assistant news director Kevin Lightfoot said.
Onions, potatoes, apples, lemons, berries and more go into each bag for the thousands of families served at the East Harlem location.
"We're doing great. We're filling up about 50 bags per crate and we've got a number of them rolling through," CBS2's Jessi Mitchell said.
"So we usually see about 300 or so families on a Saturday, and they get a different number of bags depending on the size of the family. So the family of 20 gets nine bags of everything, and a family of one or two gets one bag of use," said Fiona Cousins, with New York Common Food Pantry.
"It is incredible what you do every single day," CBS2's Mary Calvi told her.
In the Bronx, CBS2's Dana Tyler asked the New York Common Pantry executive director Stephen Grimaldi to talk about what food insecurity means for New Yorkers.
"Food insecurity is a real issue in our city. People can't thrive, people can't go to work and do well, and children can't go to school and learn," he said.
According to Grimaldi, 1.5 million New Yorkers are food insecure.
"So our goal and our mission is to serve as many people as we possibly can," he said.
Many households experiencing food insecurities do not qualify for federal nutrition programs.
As CBS2's John Elliott found out, giving back is as easy as picking up a few extra items on your next grocery run.
The pantry is looking for items like cereals, grains, rice, cans, fruits and vegetables, plant-based proteins and beans. They do not accept foods in jars.
"Why is it important to help out?" Elliott asked a young girl who was dropping off donations with the Queens United soccer team.
"So that everyone around the world can enjoy what other people can," she said.
In just a few hours, the CBS team helped pack hundreds of meals for families around New York, proving that we really are better together, especially in this season of giving.
#BetterTogether with NY Common Pantry
Highlighting New York Common Pantry's work with religious partners
This Season of Giving, CBS2 has partnered with New York Common Pantry as part of our #BetterTogether campaign.
The nonprofit, which works to fight hunger and food insecurity, has served our area since 1980. Since its foundation, the group says it has worked with the support and partnership of multiple faith-based organizations.
How food insecurity affects kids and their health
New York Common Pantry mobile service delivers on community mission
Many people affected by food insecurity are seniors who often live in food deserts without access to fresh, healthy options.
CBS2's Season of Giving #BetterTogether community partner, New York Common Pantry, brings bags of groceries where they are needed most.
New York Common Pantry using holistic approach to fight food insecurity
CBS2's partner this season of giving, New York Common Pantry, is known for its fresh food offerings, but the nonprofit does so much more to get people back on their feet.
From education to social services, the pantry uses a holistic approach to fight hunger and food insecurity.
Case Manager Diana Duarte starts her shift at 9 a.m. every day, greeting people who need a hand-up outside the pantry.
On Tuesday, her client was DeCarlo Robinson, who was hoping to supplement his meals with fresh produce.
Duarte and her team at Help 365 register dozens of people a day for pantry membership. The demand has been unprecedented due to soaring inflation.
But feeding families is just the first step on their checklist of items.
"We also educate people on how to properly put nutrition in their body. You can't give the person food if they don't have anywhere to store the food. That's when we come in with rental assistance," Duarte said.
Case managers say it's important to address the reason behind food insecurity, which is why they help people with housing, SNAP, and unemployment applications until their case is resolved.
"You don't have to be embarrassed if you need help. That's what we are here for," Duarte said.
The pantry also provides showers, mail service, laundry, and haircuts for clients.
The comprehensive approach is meant to help build self-reliance.
Robinson said the in-depth conversation he had Tuesday made him feel seen.
"People here communicate with you a little better. They hear you out. When I go to other ones, usually the line is very, very long," Robinson said.
For Duarte, the growth she sees among families she's helped really hits home.
"I'm just so proud to be a part of someone's success story, someone's goal they've wanted to achieve for so long," she said.
It is the nourishment that keeps her going.
New York Common Pantry opens new location for seniors in the South Bronx
The New York Common Pantry has opened a new location in the South Bronx.
The community food pantry serves more than 500,000 people annually to help reduce hunger and food insecurity.
The new Bronx facility is for seniors and serves about 100 people a day.
"We are really happy to be able to provide a great service space, a warm and welcoming space for our seniors who are in need. They come here and they get food. It's mostly shelf-stable. Twenty-three meals, they can come every month and pick up the food here," said Judy Secon, deputy executive director of the New York Common Pantry.
Organizers say the new location is located in an area with lots of senior housing and is accessible from the street.
The facility also gives them more pantry space and areas to offer nutrition education services.
What to donate and how to help
New York Common Pantry Executive Director Stephen Grimaldi joined us in the studio to share more about how the pantry helps New Yorkers in need.
He spoke about how rising inflation has impacted the supply and demand.
He also outlined what type of donations they're looking for during the holidays, and other ways people can get involved.
Watch his full interview above for more.
CBS2 teams up with New York Common Pantry to fight food insecurity
NEW YORK - New York has reached a critical level of food insecurity during an already trying economic time for many families. CBS2 community partner, New York Common Pantry, addresses this need with a variety of services.
CBS2 volunteers put together enough produce and packaged goods to provide more than 3,800 meals in just a few hours at the East Harlem pantry on Wednesday, but that addresses just a fraction of the food insecurity New Yorkers face every day.
CBS2 gets a look at how New York Common Pantry helps those in need
Feeding hundreds of hungry families in East Harlem
CBS2's Jessi Mitchell joined New York Common Pantry in East Harlem, as hundreds of hungry families lined up to grab a bag of fresh produce. Volunteers spent hours packing food that will fill the bellies of those in need.
The New York Common Pantry sends home millions of meals each year, and they say the need is only getting greater since the start of the pandemic, now adding inflation and immigration increases to the equation.
The pantry provides for anyone in need through different programs like hot lunches, senior services and a mobile food pantry. Organizers rely on the largest market in the country at Hunts Point for most of their donations.
"We get pallets of food from the market. It's great for us. It's food rescue, it keeps it from going in the landfills," said Deputy Executive Director Judy Secon. "It helps the environment, and it also lets us get a variety of fresh food, which is great."
Through the month of December, we're teaming up with the pantry to address food insecurity in the community. Join us next Saturday as we collect donations at a pantry near you.
New York Common Food Pantry serving up smiles
Food insecurity affects so many New Yorkers, and it's especially felt during the holidays.
As part of CBS New York's Season of Giving #BetterTogether campaign, we're now partnering with New York Common Pantry to help the most vulnerable residents.
CBS2's Chris Wragge was live in East Harlem on Wednesday, as volunteers were hard at work getting food donations boxed up and organized.
He spoke with fellow CBS2 volunteers Maurice DuBois and Jessi Mitchell, as well as the pantry's Deputy Executive Dir. Judy Secon about the need and the most wanted items.
Donated turkeys and holiday meals boxed up for families in need across New Jersey
Thanksgiving is just days away, and there are still lots of families who don't know if they will have a meal.
The Community Food Bank of New Jersey is working to provide meals to those families in their state.
CBS2's Jennifer Bisram was in Hillside, where a lot of the food was being boxed up Monday. Altogether, 19,000 holiday boxes will go out statewide.
Donations being distributed to food pantries
Over the weekend, CBS2 partnered with the Community Food Bank of New Jersey to collect donations for its annual turkey drive. Now those donations are going to pantries that have been waiting for the frozen birds for a while.
Over 2,000 turkeys and hams donated at Community Food Bank of New Jersey turkey drive
Generous shoppers across New Jersey spent their time and money on Saturday, giving back to their neighbors and meeting members of the CBS2 family who were on the ground in Livingston, Denville and Parsippany.
"Tell us about this season of Thanksgiving and why you're here supporting the Community Food Bank of New Jersey," CBS2's Kristine Johnson asked one shopper.
"Well, first of all, Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite holiday of the year. It's not about gifts, and it's really just about family, being grateful, being thankful. I feel blessed that I'm able to make donations," she said.
"What kind of a lesson is this for parents, like you, to teach their children about need and giving?" CBS2's John Elliott asked one shopper who was there with her child.
"Hopefully a good lesson that shows them that when we are fortunate to have enough food that we can give to other people who may not," she said.
Elliott also spoke with a man donating cans of soup in Denville.
"A lot of good people out there who just have some tough breaks in life, John, so anything I can do to help, it's a better world that way," he said.
From turkeys to canned goods, the folks who run the Community Food Bank of New Jersey say even a small donation makes a big difference in the lives of families in need, and this year, many more families fall into that category.
"Every dollar that you give equals three meals, so that can feed a person for an entire day," said Nadine, with the Community Food Bank of New Jersey.
"Years past before the pandemic, many people focused on just homeless people, but it's people like you and I, every single day that may have a mortgage payment, they have a car payment, car insurance," said Stephanie, with the Community Food Bank of New Jersey. "And at the end of the day, where food was always top priority, now it's taking care of everyday living and food comes at the end. So it's everyday people that have a need to eat."
Some shoppers even left and returned with more turkeys to fill Thanksgiving tables across the area.
"Every [donated turkey] is a story because every one of these is a family sitting around the table that would be empty without this," Elliott said.
In all, CBS2 viewers helped the Community Food Bank of New Jersey collect more than 2,000 turkeys and hams to be donated, proving once again that we are all better together.
The virtual turkey drive, which allows people to donate money to buy turkeys and hams, is now up to $13,820, far surpassing the food bank's goal.
If you couldn't make it Saturday, the Community Food Bank of New Jersey is also collecting donations Sunday at several locations including:
- the First Congregational Church in Montclair,
- Saint James the Apostle Church in Springfield,
- Saint Bartholomew Apostle Church in Scotch Plains,
- Summit Diner in Summit,
- And the Jewish Community Center in Summit.
#BetterTogether with Community Food Bank of New Jersey
Over 100 cyclists preparing to bike for some birds in New Jersey
CBS2 is teaming up with the Community Food Bank of New Jersey this weekend for its annual turkey drive, and our John Elliott shows us how some very committed holiday helpers are using pedal power to help their neighbors.
"This ride is the ride of all rides," said Cat Brennan, with Cycle Craft.
"It's weird, but it's a magical, fun feeling," said Brendan Poh, with Cycle Craft.
"That all of these people feel combined, it's so much fun and we like doing things for the community," Brennan said.
"They do the ride and they love it, and there's big smiles every time," Poh said.
Who cares if it's going to be cold! Saturday morning at about 8 o'clock, more than 100 cyclists are going to suit up at Cycle Craft in Parsippany and get ready to bike for some birds for the Community Food Bank of New Jersey.
The ride starts promptly at 9 a.m., and they're taking the back roads to Boonton.
"Kings is a great partner with the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, and we are ready to rock and roll on Saturday. Come by and donate your turkey," said Mark Erler, with Kings of Boonton.
It's about a 9-mile ride, with hills, to the Kings in Boonton, where the cyclists are going to load up with at least 100 turkeys for the final "turkey" leg of their journey, which ends in delightful downtown Denville at SmartWorld Coffee.
"The trick is, make sure that you have a backpack that isn't too thin because I've had people complain that the frozen turkey froze their back in the three miles between Kings and SmartWorld," Poh said.
Our friends from the Community Food Bank of New Jersey will collect the donations and CBS2 will be broadcasting live, so stop on by, say hi and bring a donation so we can all start the holiday season the right way -- by helping out.
It doesn't cost anything to join the ride, but cyclists are responsible for purchasing the food they donate. If you're interested, just show up early Saturday morning to register.
CBS2 will also being accepting donations at the ShopRites in Parsippany and Livingston.
Parsippany bike shop gets into season of giving
Cycling for the cause
Counting down to weekend turkey drive
CBS2 is partnering with the Community Food Bank of New Jersey under our #BetterTogether campaign for its annual turkey drive this weekend at nearly 70 sites across New Jersey.
You might even see some familiar faces there from CBS2 helping out. If you can't make it, you can donate virtually.
Community Food Bank of New Jersey President and CEO Carlos Rodriguez joined us in the studio Thursday to talk about how the food reaches people in need and other ways to get involved.
Volunteers help assemble supplies for Thanksgiving
Community Food Bank of New Jersey helps serve millions across state
CBS2 is kicking off our Season of Giving campaign by teaming up with the Community Food Bank of New Jersey. The CFBNJ has been helping the food insecure for 47 years.
As CBS2's John Elliott reports, everything about the organization is big. Their North Jersey warehouse is 285,000 square feet; that's five football fields. They serve 800 food pantries, soup kitchens and food and family centers around the state, but perhaps the biggest number is the hardest to comprehend: in 2021, they served 85 million meals. That number is profound proof of how many people are hungry in our area.
"I think people need to understand it's not just people in poverty; there's a middle class, if we have that anymore, who need food, have food insecurities just as well," said Daryl Walker, with CFBNJ.
Food and family are important this time of year, but meeting those food family needs this year is going to be challenging.
"We feel that every family deserves a great Thanksgiving meal, and we're going to try our hardest to make that happen," said CFBNJ Director of Operations Alex Gonzalez.
They couldn't do it without volunteers who manage to give and get at the same time.
"For me, it brings a lot of joy to my heart because I know that some child is going to go to bed full," volunteer Erdeana Ward said.
"It's a little sad sometimes when you hear the numbers and how many people are in need of food, but it feels really good to give back, especially around the holidays," volunteer Jody Ventimiglia said.
Volunteers from Ocean Healthcare packaged up over 1,000 boxes with enough food to feed over 4,000.
"I'm just blessed to help as much as possible," one volunteer said.
"It's all about the kids and the family. That's what it's about," another volunteer said.
To learn more about the Community Food Bank of New Jersey and make a donation, volunteer and more, CLICK HERE.
Partnership with Community Food Bank of New Jersey
We kick off the month of November with our partners, the Community Food Bank of New Jersey.
More than 38 million people in the U.S. are food insecure. Over 650,000 of them live in New Jersey. You can help feed those families with your time, money, or a donation.
CBS New York joins CFBNJ for its 22nd annual turkey drive online and in-person. There are multiple way you can help, including giving to the virtual food drive. Every $1 donated provides three nutritious meals. You can also drop off food during the in-person drive on Saturday, November 19 and Sunday, November 20 at nearly 70 sites across the state.
They will accept donations of frozen turkeys, roasters, and nonperishable Thanksgiving fixings like canned vegetables, gravy, mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, and more.
Join our #BetterTogether Season of Giving campaign to help provide families with food on their table this holiday season.
To learn more about the Community Food Bank of New Jersey and make a donation, volunteer and more, CLICK HERE.