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N.J. religious leaders to elected officials: We can't feed the hungry alone

The Venerable Peter Jackson, Archdeacon
By: 
Susan K. Livio / NJ.com

The Venerable Peter Jackson, Archdeacon, is quoted in this article.

[NJ.com] From Pennsauken to Pleasantville to Jersey City, a handful of food pantries scattered across New Jersey are closing or are taking a break, but not because fewer people need help, the Rev. Sara Lilja said, director of the Lutheran Office of Governmental Ministries.

There's just not enough food to fill the need, Lilja said.

"These aren't big organizations — they are serving 50 to 100 families a week. But they make a big difference," said she, adding, "Christmas isn't fun when you are hungry."

"We are stretched. We need state cooperation," said Lilja, speaking on behalf of the 180 Lutheran congregations in New Jersey.

Religious leaders representing Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Episcopalians, Baptists and Lutherans — members of the New Jersey Anti-Hunger Coalition — gathered at the Statehouse on Monday to describe how the population of hungry citizens has grown beyond the point their charitable missions can handle. They called upon state and federal elected officials to change laws that would make the food stamps program more effective, and provide greater financial support for faith-based volunteer programs don't have to turn people away.

The Venerable Peter Jackson, Archdeacon of the 112 [sic] churches that make up the Episcopal Diocese of Newark, said his church's "emergency" food pantry his members created for West Orange 10 years ago evolved into a "sole provider" for 300 to 500 people a month. The demand grew to include East Orange and Orange residents, too, but supplies were too limited and eventually they had to limit participation just to West Orange.

"This is not something we can handle alone," Jackson said.