PASCACK VALLEY—Unity Bank and its employees have donated $30,400 to 19 food pantries in New Jersey and Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania — including Helping Hand in Hillsdale, at Hillsdale United Methodist Church.
The funds were contributed by Unity Bank employees and matched by the bank as part of an annual holiday community service project launched more than 10 years ago.
“Food banks are vitally important to many families in need so it is a privilege to support their efforts,” said Unity Bank president and CEO James A. Hughes in a press release shared with Pascack Press on Dec. 28, 2022.
Hughes said, “We are extremely proud of the generosity that our employees continue to display through this important community service program. Hopefully the donation will bring some holiday cheer to families served by these great organizations.”
Helping Hand Food Pantry is a nonprofit charitable organization that serves the citizens of Emerson, Hillsdale, Montvale, Oradell, River Vale, Washington Township, Westwood, and Woodcliff Lake.
It operates amid the mutual support of the Hillsdale Clergy Association: Hillsdale United Methodist Church, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Pascack Bible Church, and St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church.
The pantry is entirely staffed by dedicated volunteers and relies on private donations, grocery stores, fundraisers, food drives and grants to serve those in need.
It serves approximately 1,250 neighbors every month, including senior citizens, the disabled, active military members, and military veterans.
The pantry’s annual turkey drive brings together volunteers from across the valley to help families in need at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Pantry coordinator Mark Loblanco told Pascack Press in November 2022 that “During this time of the year it is not about what you receive but what you already have is what is important to remember.”
He added, “It’s so amazing to see a community come together with donations of not just turkeys but bags of food and gift cards. The youth of community working in unison with adults is wonderful to watch. The many volunteers make this turkey drive a success. It is that simple.”
Loblanco said, “Our client list has been steadily increasing while our food donations have been decreasing” and noted donations have been harder to come by. He explained the pinch is due to “price increases on food and other household items. People are finding it hard to donate when they need first to take care of their own family.”
One thing going consistently strong is the volunteer force.
Loblanco said, “We have a great board of trustees but the actual volunteers that work at the pantry is the motor that keeps the train rolling on the tracks. We can always use more volunteers. Many hands make light work.”
This time last year, we reported that Helping Hand Food Pantry received a $15,000 donation thanks to the foundation of consulting firm POWER Engineers Inc., an engineering, environmental and technology consulting firm headquartered in Hailey, Idaho and with its nearest office in Oradell.
Unity Bank delivers
Unity Bank said donations of $1,600 were presented to a local food bank by each of Unity’s 19 community branches, including:
- Union Food Pantry from Union Branch;
- Helping Hand Food Pantry of Hillsdale from Emerson Branch;
- Washington Community Food Pantry from Washington Branch;
- Middlesex Elks #1488, from Middlesex Branch;
- Feeding Hands of Bridgewater from Somerville Branch;
- Sacred Heart Social Concerns Ministry in South Plainfield from South Plainfield Branch;
- Alliance Center for Independence Food Pantry in Edison from Edison Branch;
- Flemington Area Food Pantry from Flemington Branch;
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul from North Plainfield Branch;
- Franklin Township Food Bank from Somerset Branch;
- Highland Park Community Food Pantry from Highland Park Branch;
- Home First Interfaith Housing & Family Services of Plainfield from Scotch Plains Branch;
- Linden Interfaith Network for Community Service (LINCS) from Linden Branch;
- River of Life Food Pantry of Phillipsburg from Phillipsburg Branch;
- Open Cupboard Food Pantry of Clinton from Clinton Branch;
- Readington Area Starfish from Whitehouse Branch;
- Bikur Cholim of Lakewood from Lakewood Branch;
- New Bethany Ministries of Bethlehem from the Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Branch; and
- Easton Area Community Center from Forks Township, Pennsylvania Branch.
Unity Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: UNTY), the parent company of Unity Bank, its primary and wholly owned subsidiary, is a financial services organization headquartered in Clinton.
For more information, visit HelpingHandFoodPantry.com or write TheHelpingHandFoodPantry@gmail.com.