■ Corporate Philanthropy
Continued From Page 22 As supplies were dwindling , food banks , pantries and soup kitchens were overtaxed in their efforts to provide residents — who were unemployed , disadvantaged and impacted by COVID — with meal supplies to feed their families . Crops harvested by Peapack-Gladstone Bank employees were directly transported throughout the state , providing thousands of pounds of fresh produce for those facing food insecurity . By addressing the issues of proper nutrition and feeding the hungry during a time of historic proportion , Peapack-Gladstone Bank and America ’ s Grow-a-Row made a direct impact in keeping New Jersey residents healthy and strong .
Rider University . Food insecurity has risen since the COVID‐19 pandemic began , according to Feeding America . Rider University has seen similar increases in the need for food and supplies among its students . Since the start of the pandemic , the university ' s on-campus pantry , the Rider Resource Pantry , has completed nearly 700 orders for approximately 150 students . Established in 2018 , the pantry provides students with food , personal hygiene necessities , clothing and more . Completely donor funded , the pantry received an outpouring of support during the pandemic , with nearly $ 15,000 in donations since its onset . These funds have enabled the pantry to meet the increased need , add new refrigerated items and increase its supply of fresh , healthy food . Ensuring students have access to necessities allows them to maximize their college experience . They are free to explore their passions and forge their own pathways with the unyielding support of the Rider community .
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton . During COVID‐19 , Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital ( RWJUH ) Hamilton ( RWJBarnabas Health ) has never let go of its commitment to meeting the ongoing need of the community identified in the CHNA ( Community Health Needs Assessment )– and the increased need due to COVID‐19 . Farm to Family , a program piloted in 2019 , continued in 2020 as a partnership between RWJUH Hamilton , Snipes Farm and the CYO Bromley Center in Hamilton . From July through October , participating families would come to the Bromley Center to pick up their Snipes
“ Since its inception in 2012 , the 4 Miler has raised more than $ 595,000 for the Child Life Department .”
CSA ( Community Supported Agriculture ) crop share and receive recipes and nutrition education and information from RWJUH Hamilton Community Health Educators . One participant said , “ In my neighborhood there aren ’ t many opportunities to have fresh vegetables , so this was great . During COVID , fruits and vegetables are expensive in the grocery store and my family needs to eat healthier . This was an opportunity to take advantage of fresh fruits and vegetables and the healthy eating teaching tips were great .”
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset . Following a surge of
Sax LLP team members at their annual 4 Miler at Garret Mountain run / walk event to benefit St . Joseph ’ s Children ’ s Hospital .
COVID‐19 cases among members of the Hispanic community , Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset ( RWJBarnabas Health ) in Somerville launched a community outreach initiative to educate the community and prevent the spread of COVID‐19 . Through events held in collaboration with local schools , churches , food banks , health departments and municipalities , the hospital distributed more than 30,000 masks , 9,400 hand sanitizers and 5,700 soaps as well as Spanish-language educational materials . In the borough of Bound Brook , which had one of the highest numbers of Hispanics infected with COVID‐19 in Somerset County , the rate of COVID‐19 infection decreased by 85 percent as a result of the hospital ’ s outreach efforts . The hospital also formed a Latino Advisory Council and launched a new online health education series in Spanish and is expanding access to the COVID‐19 vaccine for members of the Hispanic community .
Saint Peter ’ s University Hospital . Saint Peter ’ s University Hospital ’ s Community Health Services , along with Middlesex County ’ s Office of Health Services and the Healthier Middlesex Consortium , distributed Coronavirus Care Kits to New Brunswick ’ s hardest hit neighborhoods ; Esperanza and Unity Square . Marge Drozd , Saint Peter ’ s director of Community Health Services , said the locations were identified after analyzing Saint Peter ’ s Emergency Department data from patients who sought treatment after presenting with symptoms . The Esperanza and Unity Square neighborhoods are primarily multi-family dwellings where individuals may have limited access to healthcare information . The kits were handed out at a local park , area churches and food distribution sites . “ Our main goal was to distribute bilingual healthcare information and masks , hand sanitizer and soap to help residents engage in prevention ,” said Drozd . “ We provided critical information explaining how to identify symptoms , how to take care of yourself if you do get sick and ways to protect your family .”
Sax LLP . Sax is an avid supporter of St . Joseph ’ s Children ’ s Hospital in Paterson and holds an annual , family-friendly run / walk event called the 4 Miler at Garret Mountain . The firm ’ s philanthropic arm , The Sax Charitable Foundation , absorbs all costs for the event ( approximately $ 20,000 per year ) so that 100 percent of the dollars raised directly supports the Child Life Department at the Children ’ s Hospital . This department offers high-impact , holistic therapies that are shown to be highly beneficial in mitigating the negative effects of hospitalization , particularly for pediatric patients with chronic , life-threatening or terminal illness . Since its inception in 2012 , the 4 Miler has raised more than $ 595,000 for the Child Life Department and Sax has become its largest financial contributor of the Child Life Department . This year , because of the COVID‐19 pandemic , the event was held virtually and $ 60,000 was raised . In
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