EB Bears Stock County Food Pantry With Massive Donation

A haze of hunter green uniforms filed in and out of the East Brunswick High School Bears' locker room Thursday afternoon, each attached to a brimming bag of food.

Within minutes of loading the Middlesex County Food Outreach Organization Distribution Services’ (MCFOODS) van, dozens of the high school’s athletes huddled for a picture near the 65 bins of nonperishable food items they’re credited with collecting.

“They’re so much more than good football players – they’re good citizens,” said East Brunswick High School Principal Michael Vinella.

“This 3,250-pound donation couldn’t have come a moment too soon,” Apostol said. “Without fail, the summertime lull depletes our supplies every year.  To make matters worse, last month we counted a record high number of food agencies – 49 in total – seeking our assistance during the weekly distributions in New Brunswick.”

The response was more than he expected, with approximately 100 players making rounds in their local neighborhoods on July 15 to distribute collection bags, only to return, at latest, by Thursday to pick-up the goods.  

This is the second year that O’Sullivan has made a personal effort to tackle the issue of hunger in Middlesex County, launching a similar drive in 2012. He hopes it will become a tradition, a legacy that his class will pass down to the next generation of pigskin-loving players.

Apostol is encouraging other residents to follow in these civic-minded youths’ foot steps by sponsoring a drive of their own. For instructions, interested parties can log onto www.mciauth.com or reach Apostol by calling 609-409-5033 or by emailing ja@mciauth.com.