Cycle of Giving: Matching Fund to support Toni’s Kitchen – TAPinto.net
MONTCLAIR, NJ –
Will Match up to $20K in Additional Donations
Montclair Township this week donated $20,000 to Toni’s Kitchen and will match up to an additional $20,000 in donations towards the local food ministry’s continued efforts providing meals to those in need during the COVID-19 shutdown.
“Toni’s Kitchen volunteers and staff have been working tirelessly to ensure that everyone in our community has access to nutritious meals,” said Mayor Robert Jackson. “The Township is doing its part to make sure their invaluable work continues during this crisis and beyond. Based on discussions I’ve had, I believe that the $20,000 will be matched in short order!
Volunteers at Toni’s Kitchen have been working in shifts during the last several weeks cooking and packing thousands of meals for their regular patrons, packing food bags for hundreds of children and their families, and delivering groceries and prepared meals to hundreds of older residents.
To make a donation visit the Toni’s Kitchen website donations page.
The Township would also like to thank the many businesses and organizations helping the Division of Senior Services/Lifelong Montclair with meals and food delivery for Montclair’s older residents. While the Division conducts outreach, signs up older residents, and assigns volunteers, the community has rallied with Toni’s Kitchen to make it all happen.
Antika Grill co-owners Fady Ghazal and George and Nancy Amir currently donate 360 meals per week for older residents.
“Fady, George and Nancy reached out to us and have been unwavering in their commitment to contributing delicious meals during this crisis,” said Senior Services/Lifelong Montclair Director Dr. Katie York.
Rao’s/Sovos Foods, a relative newcomer to the community, this week donated 125 cases of products, totaling 360 jars of pasta sauce, 360 containers of pasta, and 390 cans of soup. Gelati by Mike is providing food donations and volunteering staff time and vehicles to help with deliveries.
Montclair Center Business Improvement District (BID) team members help collect donations and deliver food. The Kiwanis Club of Montclair has been building the volunteer base and training new volunteers, thanks largely to the efforts of the organization’s manager Peter Ebling.
Township Fire Chief John Herrmann and Second Ward Councilwoman Robin Schlager also volunteer their time to help with deliveries while Dr. York oversees the entire operation.
Montclair Funders and Township of Montclair
Establish Matching Fund to support Toni’s Kitchen
Monday, April 20, 2020
MONTCLAIR, NJ – Three local funders have joined the Township of Montclair to address escalating food need during the COVID-19 pandemic. Partners for Health Foundation, The Schumann Fund for New Jersey, the Montclair Fund for Women and the Township have contributed a total of $80,000 to establish a pooled Matching Fund for Toni’s Kitchen. Donations made directly to Toni’s Kitchen by May 31, 2020 will be matched dollar for dollar up to $80,000 and used to strengthen the availability of food in the local community.
Since the closure of schools and businesses due to the pandemic, there have been major disruptions throughout the community. Seniors are isolating, restaurant workers are unemployed, and families are suddenly without income. Toni’s Kitchen has responded by redesigning its work to meet rapidly growing food needs. To put the increased demand for food into perspective, in 2019 Toni’s Kitchen provided an average of 4,300 meals a week. Since March 2020, the number has grown to 16,000 meals each week. And the growth has not slowed.
“This Matching Fund is a game-changer,” said Anne Mernin, Executive Director of Toni’s Kitchen. “Having resources to purchase food and cover our additional refrigeration needs is key. We know the year ahead will be challenging.”
Partners for Health Foundation contributed $30,000 to the Matching Fund. “We’re all stronger when we work together, and we hope the community responds generously to support our neighbors in need, when the need has never been greater,” said Pam Scott, Executive Director.
The Schumann Fund for New Jersey contributed $20,000. According to Annette Strickland, Executive Director, “The trustees of the Schumann Fund for New Jersey are proud to support this longstanding organization that has become a hub of social services in Montclair.”
Lori Heninger, Executive Director of the Montclair Fund for Women which donated $10,000, added, “Toni’s Kitchen is doing an incredible job of ensuring that the most vulnerable in our community are able to meet a basic human need–that of food. The Board of Trustees is grateful that we can stand together with other local funders, the Township and individual donors.”
The Township of Montclair joined the funders with a contribution of $20,000, bringing the total the Township has given to support Toni’s Kitchen during this crisis to $60,000. Mayor Robert Jackson noted, “We’re delighted to continue our support of Toni’s Kitchen, particularly in partnership with such wonderful organizations along the way. In a twist of the adage, we’re pouring good money after good.”
To donate to Toni’s Kitchen, go to www.toniskitchen.org.
About Toni’s Kitchen: Toni’s Kitchen is a food ministry of St Luke’s Episcopal Church in Montclair, NJ. We envision a community where everyone has reliable access to healthy food. Toni’s Kitchen provides food to our neighbors in need in ways that respect their dignity, improve health and foster independence. We use a community partner model to enhance access and connections to programs and resources that encourage healthy, independent lives.
Partners for Health is committed to addressing the health needs of vulnerable populations. Since 2008, the Foundation has distributed more than $13 million dollars to local non-profit organizations. The Foundation awards grants to make it easier to reach optimal health through policy, systems and environmental change.
The Schumann Fund for New Jersey supports organizations focused on early-childhood development, social and educational services in Essex County, and public policy engagement concerning social and educational services to families and children.
The Montclair Fund for Women (MFW) is a private charitable foundation located in Montclair, New Jersey. Our grant-making is rooted in the history of the former YWCA of Montclair-North Essex, which provided support, encouragement, educational opportunities, recreation and safe housing for many African-American women and girls from the early 20th century until 1953, and for all women and girls in the Montclair area for 50 subsequent years.
Photo: Anne Mernin in Toni’s Kitchen; courtesy of Anne Mernin.