Students, families, educators, and school staff across Middlesex County have delivered a massive blow to local food insecurity during the 2025–2026 academic year. Through a coordinated series of school-led food drives, 106 local schools collectively donated more than 77,000 pounds of non-perishable food to REPLENISH, the county’s primary food distribution network.
To celebrate these efforts, the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners held a recognition ceremony on Wednesday, May 27 honoring the top 10 participating schools. Together, this leading group of schools amassed more than 27,750 pounds of the total donations.
Top 10 Participating Schools Recognized
The Board of County Commissioners gave special distinction to the following 10 schools for their outstanding community contribution and sheer volume of collections:
- Old Bridge High School
- Monroe Township Middle School
- East Brunswick High School
- Irwin Elementary School
- South Brunswick High School
- Private Nicholas Minue Elementary School
- Applegarth Elementary School
- Edison Academy Magnet School
- Knollwood Elementary School
- John Kenney Child Care Center
In addition to the top ten leaderboard, the Board presented a special honor to James Monroe Elementary School in Edison. The school was commended for its exceptional leadership in creating innovative learning initiatives and hands-on opportunities that educated its young students about the realities of food insecurity, fostering civic pride and compassion.
“Year after year, our students, families, educators, and school communities continue to show what is possible when people come together to support one another,” Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald Rios said. “The overwhelming success of these school food drives reflects the compassion, generosity, and civic spirit that defines Middlesex County.”
While the student-led drive provided a massive influx of inventory, county leaders emphasized that the battle against hunger is a year-round effort.
“Food insecurity remains a reality for many families across Middlesex County, which is why community support is more important than ever,” Claribel Azcona-Barber, Middlesex County commissioner and chair of the community services Committee. “We encourage residents, businesses, and community organizations to continue donating to REPLENISH so that families throughout our County have access to the food and resources they need.”
As households continue to grapple with high living costs, REPLENISH relies heavily on public and corporate donations to keep its network of local food pantries stocked.
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Physical Donations: Non-perishable food and basic household supplies can be dropped off Monday through Friday, between 6:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Items are accepted at the REPLENISH Distribution Center, located around the back of the building at 28 Kennedy Boulevard, Edison, NJ.
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Monetary Donations: Tax-deductible financial contributions can be made online at feedingmiddlesexcounty.org or via checks made payable to “Feeding Middlesex County” (P.O. Box 781, Edison, NJ 08818).
