Recognizing that food insecurity has become one of the greatest challenges for children and families in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, Acenda Integrated Health (Acenda) led this project to distribute food to communities throughout Atlantic and Gloucester counties. In particular, Acenda and its community partners focused their work to provide food to school-age children and their families, women with infants and young children, and seniors in Absecon, Atlantic City Clayton, Egg Harbor Township, Glassboro, Hammonton, Malaga, Mullica Hill,  Paulsboro, Pitman, Pleasantville,  National Park, Ventnor and Williamstown. As a phase of this project, Acenda and its community partners distributed breakfast and lunch packages, in addition to groceries, to families through a network of Family Success Centers and Maternal Health Programs. Through this project, Acenda and its community partners have advanced existing efforts to address the immediate needs of children and low-income households, which could inform an equitable recovery.

In February 2021, nearly one year after the onset of the pandemic, program staff recorded and volunteers from the Mosaic, Oceanside and Oceanside II Family Success Centers recorded their reflections on the impact of this work. Scroll down to watch the video.