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HV Mobile Food Pantry – neighbors helping neighbors

by Amie Rukenstein

Since the earliest days of the COVID-19 emergency, residents of the Hopewell Valley who have enough have found ways to help those who do not. One program that has arisen is the Hopewell Valley Mobile Food Pantry. Created through a partnership of several groups including the Hopewell Valley Regional School District and individuals including Joe Lawver, mayor of Pennington, the Food Pantry delivers school lunches to kids who qualify and delivers groceries to anyone who expresses a need.

Lawver wants people to know three things about the Mobile Food Pantry:

First, he lauds Mike Rothwell, owner of Pennington Quality Market, and his employees for “going above and beyond” to help the food pantry effort.

“Mike and his whole team at PQM have just been exceptional,” Lawver said.  “From locating items that people need to running a fundraiser so people can donate while they are shopping,” he stated, “They have always been a great team but it has been heartwarming to see how they have all stepped up to help.”

Lawver also gives credit to the Hopewell Valley YMCA for the invaluable contribution of coming up with a mechanism for people to donate to the Mobile Food Pantry.

“The Y stepped in and said ‘We will do it for you.’ Ryan Kennedy and Doug Pszczolkowski quickly covered the back end of the financial operations and, in a matter of days, we went from nothing to over $7,000 in the Go Fund Me.”

Third, Lawver wants to get word out that the Mobile Food Pantry is available to anyone who needs it and it is 100% confidential. He explained also that there is no means test –- anyone who asks for help will receive it. Furthermore, he added that no one sees who the bags are going to. 

If you need help, or would like to volunteer, information about Hopewell Valley’s Mobile Food Pantry (Source: Pennington website) is as follows:

“The Hopewell Valley Regional School District has partnered with the leadership from Hopewell Township, Hopewell Borough and Pennington Borough and local faith based organizations to support families and individuals in need throughout the Valley during the COVID 19 outbreak.

“HVRSD is currently delivering over 150 lunches everyday to students who receive free or reduced lunch in our schools, but we know we have many more families that could use our help. We also have many senior citizens in our community who need support.”

To get help: 
If you or someone you know can use groceries from the food pantry please use this form
For assistance with grocery shopping or other essentials use this form.
You can also call the dispatcher, Margaret Fowler, at (609) 306-7923.

To be a helper:
Sign up for HV Mobile Food Pantry Volunteers
Healthy volunteers, age 16 and up, are needed to help sort and distribute food. Groups will be limited to 6 volunteers during a two-hour shift between the hours of 9am and 1pm.. Social distancing rules will be applied.

Questions? Send an email to [email protected].

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