High School Students Volunteer in 'Cast a Can' Program

Students at JFK High School are hoping voters in Woodbridge will be as generous on Election Day as they are the rest of the year. That's the day where township residents can do more than vote, but also help the needy with a simple food donation at the polling place they attend.

The high schoolers at JFK in Iselin were helping to publicize the township's "Cast a Can" program, which encourages voters to bring a non-perishable food item to polling places throughout Woodbridge to help those facing hard times.

Mayor John McCormac joined the students Wednesday to publicize the program, which with other charitable efforts throughout the township, has collected almost 100,000 pounds of food donations this year to help those in need.

The JFK students, as well as students from Woodbridge and Colonia high schools, will collect the food donations from polling places on Tuesday, Nov. 8 and bring them to the Woodbridge Health Center where the contributions are sorted and prepared for distribution to food pantries.

The "We Feed" Committee at the Woodbridge Health & Human Services Dept., run by chairman Peter Barcellona, coordinates the students and food donation activities.

The food banks who receive the contributions include: 

• Heavens Helper’s Pantry, 343 Pearl Street, Woodbridge (formerly Congregation Adath Israel); Kathy Hoffman, Coordinator, 732-742-8942;
• First Presbyterian Church, 20 Middlesex Avenue, Iselin; Gloria Haesler, Coordinator, 732-283-1188;
• Trinity Episcopal Church, Trinity Lane, Woodbridge; Val and Hertha Blatz, Coordinators, 732-634-7422; 
• Metro Park Assembly of God, 48 Berkeley Blvd., Iselin; Sandra Burton, Coordinator, 732-310-8758;
• First Presbyterian Church, 600 Rahway Avenue, Woodbridge; George and Robin Goodrich, Coordinator, 732-634-1024;
• St. James Roman Catholic Church, 174 Grove Street, Woodbridge; Peggy Catalano, Coordinator, 732-636-4310;
• First Presbyterian Church of Avenel, 621 E. Woodbridge Avenue, Avenel; Carolyn and Jake Stockl, Coordinators, 732-634-1631;
• First Congregational Church-Women of Faith, Barron Avenue, Woodbridge; Faith Longstreet, Coordinator, 732-634-0582;
• St. Cecelia Roman Catholic Church, 45 Wilus Way, Iselin; 732-283-0150;
• Elijah’s Bread Food Pantry, Ridgedale and E. Prospect Avenues, Woodbridge; 732-636-7727.

For those who miss the Election Day Cast a Can effort but who still want to contribute, food donations can be dropped off any time weekdays between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm at the following locations: Woodbridge Health Center, 2 George Frederick Plaza; Woodbridge Town Hall, 1 Main Street; the Woodbridge Library, 1 George Frederick Plaza; or at the Woodbridge Community Center, 600 Main Street. 

More information about township-sponsored food drives or the “We Feed” Committee can be had by calling 732-855-0600, ext. 5034.