Bergen Co. YMCA Feeds 115K Families, Cements Role As 'Vital Resource'

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — In the three years since the COVID-19 pandemic began, this Bergen County YMCA cemented its role in northern New Jersey as a "vital community resource," spokesperson Mike Golz said.

Since March 2020, the Meadowlands Area YMCA in East Rutherford has distributed more than two million free meals (eight million pounds of food) to more than 115,000 families, through its weekly and monthly distributions.

The Meadowlands YMCA's food security program, which began as an emergency distribution program at the outset of the pandemic, has become one of the largest food pantries in Bergen County and the largest within a YMCA in New Jersey, Golz said.

"The Y is a place where you can stay healthy and focus on wellness — but we have become so much more than that," David Kisselback, president and CEO of the Meadowlands YMCA, said. "We will continue to address (food insecurity) for the residents of northern New Jersey."

The Y continues monthly distributions and also operates as a food pantry for those who apply and demonstrate a need for assistance. In the past three years, more than 130 volunteers completed more than 7,500 hours to assist in distributing food to those in need.

Partnering with local organizations, the Y's food pantry serves 996 people and is open Tuesdays and Sundays offering customize meals for each participant depending on need.

"The pantry saved our family," pantry member Debra B. said. "Every single item we get is helpful as we are in need of essentials like food, toilet paper, diapers; anything they have offered us is a blessing.”

Food distributions, Meadowlands YMCA Board Chair Ron Simoncini said, opened the Y to a "new realm of meaning" in the community."

“As we navigated through the pandemic, we knew that when we came out on the other end we would emerge stronger,” Simoncini said.

In fact, the Y has regained 90% of its pre-COVID membership, increased its daycare program by 50%, and made building improvements, including a $1.5 million investment in new fitness equipment and the addition of 9,000 square feet of preschool educational space.

The Meadowlands YMCA — which was the only Y in the state to never fully close during COVID — offered free childcare to first responders; 25% of those children continued enrollment post-COVID, the spokesperson said.

“We weren’t only fighting to stay in operation, we were committed to making sure we were here for the community at such an essential time,” said president and CEO Kisselback said.

Even as the Y faced almost certain closure, the spokesperson said, the organization continued to offer various programs, including online group exercise classes.

Recently, the Y was also able to add five new board members to help lead the organization — a move that was "impracticable" during the uncertainty of COVID, chair Simoncini said.

“What we were able to achieve in the last three years through our dedicated staff, volunteers, and generous donations was nothing short of a miracle," CEO Kisselback said.