1,000 Turkeys For Needy Families To Be Distributed In Toms River

TOMS RIVER, NJ — The weekly Toms River food distribution, which has been helping to feed people in need for more than 2½ years, will be distributing 1,000 turkeys on Friday.

The food distribution, which started during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, has continued for nearly 140 weeks as part of efforts to address food insecurity in Ocean County.

The turkeys, provided by Fulfill, are part of the pre-Thanksgiving food distribution that aims to provide families struggling to put food on the table with a holiday meal.

The Toms River distribution begins at 8 a.m. Friday and continues until all the food has been distributed. In recent weeks, the food — the group has been distributing 500 boxes that include produce, canned goods and other items — has run out by about 10:30 a.m., Dana Tormollan, one of the volunteers, told the Toms River Township Council.

“The crisis is not getting any better, it’s getting worse,” Tormollan said.

The distribution is held at the Toms River Presbyterian Church parking lot, 1070 Hooper Ave. and is free. You do not have to register; just pull up, pop your trunk or open your back door and volunteers put the food in your vehicle.

Patch has partnered with Feeding America since 2020 to help raise awareness of hunger in our local communities, a persistent national problem exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that 1 in 8 people face hunger. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.