Packing Hope, One Grocery Bag at a Time

Packing Hope, One Grocery Bag at a Time
Summit Comes Together to Feed Families in Need

Written by Melanie Wilson

SUMMIT, NJ – GRACE Giving & Receiving Assistance for our Community’s Essentials

A little girl sat squished in the shopping cart among boxes of pasta, cans of fruit, and packages of dried beans, while her brother shopped in the aisle, asking his mom what was next on the grocery list.

“Pasta, fruit, beans,” she said as they went. But this was not about filling their own pantry. They were packing a “Bag of Hope” for families in Summit who could not afford groceries right now.
Their mom, Angela Seavy, Assistant Director of Special Services for Summit Public Schools, was taking part too. The schools had asked families to help, and like hundreds of others, she and her children showed up ready to do their part.

For parents, it was a chance to show their kids what community service really looks like. Sure, writing a check is still important, because GRACE, the local nonprofit that provides food and essentials to Summit families in need, relies on donations to keep the program running. But in this case, kids could also see it, touch it, and be part of it. Helping your neighbors wasn’t just an idea—it was something you could actually do, aisle by aisle, bag by bag.

All over Summit, families were doing the same thing. Simple shopping trips turned into lessons in generosity and empathy. Some parents said their children asked questions about why families might need help, and it opened up conversations about kindness, responsibility, and the impact of their actions.

Even before families went out to shop and pack bags, GRACE was feeling the strain. By the third week of October, the nonprofit noticed an uptick in families needing help. Many households that rely on SNAP benefits had already run out of funds for the month and worried their November benefits would not arrive.

The monthly in-kind donations and USDA allocations arrived on October 29, and GRACE found the shelf-stable and frozen goods were far less than usual. Protein sources were also greatly affected. Meat and egg prices had jumped, making it harder to stretch our donations. Filling the gap with outside purchases would have cost at least $30,000, well beyond the nonprofit’s budget.
When the county announced there was no emergency SNAP distribution and not enough staff to run one, GRACE knew it was time to call on its community.

“Our friends and partner organizations always say to just ask when we need help,” said Amanda Block, Founder of GRACE. “A call to the JLS Community VP solidified the idea.”
The Junior League of Summit acted as the anchor donor organization, committing the first pledges for donated grocery bags. After the JLS made their commitment, Block reached out to local churches and community groups to respond to growing need. The Summit Public Schools also answered the call, delivering 288 bags prior to the NJ Teachers Convention. Soon, additional grocery bags were pledged from Brandywine, Central Presbyterian Church, Calvary Church, the Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, St. John’s, and the Summit Democrats.

Most of the remaining bags arrived on Sunday, November 9, with the Summit Fire Department helping to receive and store hundreds of them. Calvary Church expanded its pledge from 300 bags to 1,000 and staged a bagging event where 200 volunteers worked side by side, turning pledges into real grocery bags.

At Calvary Church, volunteers started arriving early. By the time bagging began, people were lined up like they were waiting for a big event, ready to help. Kids joined in too, coloring notes and writing messages that went into each bag.

“It was amazing! People were lined up like they were waiting for heaven to help us. We had children coloring notes and writing messages that went into each bag,” said Cynthia Falco.
More than 1,600 Bags of Hope have now been collected, with a few more arriving each day. These bags contain groceries that help GRACE families feel that they have what they want and need in order to feed their families. Thanks to the generosity of the Summit community, GRACE is now well stocked in shelf-stable goods for all of November and possibly into the first week of December.
“Each bag might seem simple, but together they make a real difference,” said Block. “They give families food, yes. They provide comfort and stability. But even more than that, they show just what can happen when neighbors respond to a need and step in to help. This was a massive, rapid mobilization effort, showing the kind of community spirit that makes Summit a place that people want to call home.”

@GRACESummitNJ

About GRACE - Since 2016 GRACE has been Giving & Receiving Assistance for our Community’s Essentials. As a volunteer run 501(c)3 non-profit organization, GRACE meets community demand with community resources. For more information, visit www.gracegivingreceiving.org, or email info@gracegivingreceiving.org.