County Library System Holds Drive to Replenish Local Food Banks

Editor's Note: The following is a news release issued by the Mercer County administration.

The Mercer County Library System is holding a special food drive during November and December to help replenish local food banks depleted in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

To date the response has been so strong, with donations arriving from as far west as Ohio and as far south as Virginia, that the library has had to make weekly deliveries of donations to local service organizations, rather than simply deliver the donations at the end of the collection period.

On Nov. 15, a delivery van full of donations — food, clothing, toys, books and a $1,100 monetary donation — arrived from Ohio at the Ewing Branch. Unloading of the donations took staff more than 30 minutes to accomplish. The individuals from Ohio had come across the library as a collection point for Sandy victims on the Internet.

“To witness this type of community response has been extraordinary,” said Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes. “We have seen a dramatic increase in donations since the storm, and to see donations come in from other parts of the country — it truly demonstrates the magnitude of people’s generosity.”

The collected nonperishable food items will be distributed to the Crisis Ministry, Mercer Street Friends Food Bank of Trenton, HomeFront of Lawrence, the Robbinsville Food Pantry, and “Rise – A Community Service Partnership” in Hightstown. Anyone wishing to donate nonperishable items may do so at any of the nine branches of the Mercer County Library System, located in the municipalities of East Windsor, Ewing, Hightstown, Hopewell, Lawrence, Robbinsville and West Windsor.

Some of the most needed items are canned fish and chicken, shelf-stable milk, peanut butter, canned vegetables and potatoes, cans of fruit, non-sugary hot or cold cereals, pasta, boxed macaroni and cheese, dried beans and rice.

Household goods and clothing are not being accepted. Additional information regarding collection and a list of items that are most needed may be found on the Library System’s website, www.mcl.org.