The New Jersey Bankers Association (NJBankers) successfully completed its multi-year One Million Meals Campaign, finishing two years ahead of its 2027 goal and delivering a critical lifeline to New Jersey residents facing food insecurity.
The announcement on Nov. 7, a crucial time as a continuing government shutdown has furloughed federal workers and, critically, paused Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for over 800,000 New Jersey residents.
The campaign officially exceeded its fundraising target with a final $20,000 donation from the New Jersey Bankers Charitable Foundation. The initiative surpassed its goal of raising $334,000 for the Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ) and its affiliates across the state. With CFBNJ estimating that $1 provides three meals, the effort secured more than one million meals for vulnerable communities.
“No one should ever have to worry about putting food on the table,” Michael Affuso, NJBankers president and CEO said. “Through the One Million Meals Campaign, the New Jersey banking industry came together to support our state’s most vulnerable residents.”
Statewide banking industry mobilizes
The five-year campaign, launched in 2022, was a unified effort across the New Jersey banking community. Donations came from banks of all sizes, along with the NJBankers subsidiary, Bankers Cooperative Group, Inc., and NJBankers Associate Members.
In addition to the monetary donations, the campaign was bolstered by a significant volunteer effort. Employees from New Jersey banks contributed more than 11,200 hours of service to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey and its affiliates since the campaign’s inception.
