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September 10, 2012 – Tinton Falls, NJ – A.J. Perri has joined forces with the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties as a sponsor for the 6th Annual Monmouth/Ocean 2012 School Holiday Hunger 1,000,000 Pound Challenge. The Challenge, which begins September 17th and ends just before Thanksgiving, is the FoodBank’s part of Students Change Hunger, a combined effort of the NJ Federation of Food Banks, which is made up of six food bank networks that encompass the entire state. Through this program, students from pre-Kindergarten through college work to combat hunger.
Kevin Perri, Vice President of A.J. Perri, states, “Hunger is an issue everywhere, and can affect children by compromising development mentally, physically, and socially. One out of every three people that relies upon food banks to survive is a child. Kids want to help other kids who are struggling and this is a great way for them to be able to do that.”
The Challenge is not just a food drive; it’s also a competition between similarly sized schools to see who can collect the most food, as determined by weight. Money may also be donated; every dollar is equivalent to one pound of food. The school in Monmouth and Ocean counties that collects the most food will receive the 2012 Holiday Hunger Champion Trophy. That school can then go against other schools in the state for the Governor’s Cup, awarded by the NJ Federation of Food Banks to the school that amasses the most food.
This year, for the second consecutive year, A.J. Perri will be partnering with MOESC – Monmouth Ocean Educations Services Commission. In 2011, MOESC received a Spirit of Giving Award, given to schools that display an extraordinary degree of spirit, commitment and enthusiasm toward fighting hunger. “Beyond knowing that we’ve helped so many families, helping such a worthy organization to be recognized for their generosity is a great honor,” states Perri.
Beyond simply sponsoring the Hunger Challenge, during the course of the Challenge, A.J. Perri will be collecting non-perishable food items, both during service calls and at their office. “The 51,000 children who receive assistance from the FoodBank every year in Monmouth and Ocean counties are our neighbors, and this is the least we can do for them,” says Perri.
The 2012 Challenge is the sixth annual School Holiday Hunger Challenge. In 2011, the students, teachers, staff, and communities of 91 schools in Monmouth and Ocean counties raised over 68,000 pounds of food and over $25,000.
For more information regarding the Hunger Challenge, or to donate directly go to http://www.foodbankmoc.org.
To learn about MOESC – Monmouth Ocean Educations Services Commission, visit www.monmouthresourcenet.org/search/maecom.
A.J. Perri
A.J. Perri is dedicated to providing total home comfort for their New Jersey neighbors. Based in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, they have over 52 years of experience in the heating and air conditioning, and plumbing industry. They service those in Monmouth, Ocean, Mercer, Middlesex, Union, Essex, and Morris counties.