Gateway launched its summer feeding initiative in June at Bridgeton High School.

                Gateway, in collaboration with its partners, launched its summer feeding initiative with a kickoff event in late June at Bridgeton High School.

                Gateway President and CEO Albert B. Kelly, who is also the Mayor Bridgeton, and New Jersey Department of Agriculture Secretary Doug Fisher were among those on hand to discuss the program and its impact.

                The program is currently providing nutritious meals for youth -18 and younger - in the summertime when they do not have access to the food provided at school during the school year. Gateway, in partnership with the Bridgeton Public Schools, the NJ Department of Agriculture, the USDA, Inspira Health Network, the Community Food Bank of NJ, ShopRite and the Bridgeton PAL, is utilizing the Mobile Summer Feeding Bus, funded by the OceanFirst Foundation, to deliver meals. The food is being distributed by youth in Gateway's Next Generation of Leaders program.

"It's my pleasure to be the Mayor of this great city, but it is a team effort in making things happen in our community," Kelly said as he stood near the Mobile Summer Feeding Bus. All the people here work together to continue the trend of Bridgeton becoming an even greater city."

Said Fisher: "This is one of the best sites I have seen in the state in terms of the organizing effort and what is being served. Just everything in its place."

Also in attendance were Ed Geletka, representing OceanFirst Bank and the OceanFirst Foundation, Diana Limbacher, USDA Deputy Regional Administrator and Rose Tricario, from the NJ Department of Agriculture, and Dr. Thomasina Jones, Superintendent of Bridgeton Public Schools and Warren DeShields, Food Service Director, Bridgeton Public Schools.

"Programs like these are essential," Limbacher said. "We know there is a lot of food insecurity in the summer when the kids are not in school. You can only make these programs successful when we have champions such as Mayor Kelly. Mayor Kelly has done an excellent job. In fact, we use this program as a best practice in our nation and region, and we have asked Mayor Kelly to speak at some of our summits to talk about all the things he has done."

                Said Jones: "We want our children to have access to food this summer. We realize that there are parents who are struggling to meet the financial needs of their family and because we are employed in a low-income school district, it is our responsibility to ensure that you have what you need to thrive and survive during the summer months."

 

Internet Essentials , a program offered by Comcast, gives income-eligible families access to the Internet for $9.95 a month with no activation fee, equipment fees or price increases.  Having the Internet enables children to do homework, type reports or do research and enables the parents to e-mail teachers as well as look for jobs, pay bills or find doctors.

Gateway Community Action Partnership is working with Comcast to inform families of the program. Internet Essentials is available to households that have children eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program or if they receive HUD housing assistance.  They must reside in a Comcast service area and must not have subscribed to Comcast Internet in the last 90 days or have overdue Comcast bills. Also, low-cost computers are being offered for $149.99 and free training is accessible if needed. To get more information or to sign up, visit www.internetessentials.com or call 1-855-846-8376. ... Gateway operates the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants & Children (WIC) in Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic and Salem counties. The program provides supplemental foods, nutrition education, lactation support, immunization education and health care referrals to income-eligible pregnant women, new mothers, infants and children up to age 5. Gateway WIC serves more than 23,000 clients annually through flexible hours through its eight (8) offices and a full-service, health screening mobile office. WIC is an equal opportunity program. If you believe you have been discriminated against because of race, color, national origin, age, sex or handicap, write immediately to: USDA, Director-Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC, 20250 - 9410. For additional information on the Gateway WIC program or nearest office location and hours of operation, call the Gateway WIC program at 856-451-5600 or 856-225-5050. ... Gateway's Head Start program is once again sponsoring the Child Care Food Program. This program is designed to provide meals to children receiving services in Head Start centers located throughout Atlantic, Cape May, Mercer, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties. Meals are available at no separate charge to all children 12 and under enrolled in the Child Care Food Program and are served without regard to race, color, national origin, disability, age or sex.    

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