Sandy Food Aid Coming To NJ

Food supplies distributed to Sandy victims will be replenished in the state thanks to a $75,000 federal grant.

The Garden State will be getting federal funding for Sandy relief from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The money will go to to the New Jersey Department of Human Services.

The $75,000 grant, announced this morning by New Jersey’s two U.S. Senators will help New Jersey replenish food supplies that were used during Superstorm Sandy to feed low-income, elderly residents.

“This funding is another example of the federal government stepping up to take care of New Jersey in the wake of Superstorm Sandy,” says Sen. Frank Lautenberg, who was a lead author of the Sandy relief legislation. “Once Sandy struck, the state moved quickly to make sure the most vulnerable New Jerseyans didn’t go hungry, and this federal funding will help ensure that if another disaster strikes, we’ll be ready once again.”

The grant provides $75,000 to the New Jersey Department of Human Services to provide county Area Agencies on Aging with funds to replenish the supply of shelf stable meals used during Superstorm Sandy.

Menendez Calls Them "Critical Federal Resources"

“New Jersey’s seniors were among those who felt Superstorm Sandy’s impact the most, and providing ready-to-eat meals to low-income seniors was an important part of our response during and after the storm,” explains Sen. Bob Menendez, who helped lead the New Jersey delegation’s fight for federal Sandy relief. “Now we must be prepared for future severe weather events, and this funding will help replenish our supply of food that can be delivered to low-income seniors at their homes and community centers where seniors gather.”

“These are critical federal resources that we cannot afford to lose through an unresolved sequester,” says Menendez. “I am committed to doing everything I can to make sure they remain available to New Jersey’s individuals and families.” 

In January, the President signed the Superstorm Sandy Supplemental Appropriations bill into law, bringing the total Sandy aid enacted by Congress to $60.2 billion. The funding package included federal aid to help homeowners, businesses, and communities recover, and resources to rebuild coastal, transportation, and clean water infrastructure.