Volunteers Show Holiday Hustle In Montclair, Deliver 1,500 Grocery Bags For Kids

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Dozens of neighbors recently came together at a food ministry in Montclair to assemble and deliver 1,500 grocery bags for schoolchildren over the holidays.

According to Toni’s Kitchen, the holiday drive came together to address an “often-overlooked gap” when children are home from school for more than a week without access to school meals – and many area food pantries are closed for the holidays.

The effort required some major teamwork, with 32 volunteers working over the course of three days to assemble and distribute the 1,500 bags. Along the way, Toni’s Kitchen leaned on its volunteer network, in-kind food donations and other efforts to supplement purchased food – a heartwarming show of “collective action” in the name of food security.

“This is what it looks like when a community learns how to take care of each other,” Toni’s Kitchen executive director Anne Mernin said.

“Local schools, faith communities, health departments and other vital partners are increasingly aware they should ask for help when they see a need, and because of our dedicated volunteer base, our strong food donation and gleaning programs and the generosity of our neighbors, we have the confidence to say ‘yes’ and respond rapidly,” Mernin said.

“This is community at its best, and it's rooted in trust, shared responsibility and teamwork,” Mernin added.

“By responding quickly, our volunteers helped ensure families have reliable access to healthy food during a season that should be full of connection and celebration,” advocates said.

Toni’s Kitchen provided more than two million meals locally in 2025. To learn more about how to get involved, visit https://toniskitchen.org/

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