St. Joseph’s Health Supporting Wayne YMCA’s Food Distribution with Donation of 100K Meals
WAYNE, NJ – The Wayne YMCA is teaming up with community partner St. Joseph’s Health to bolster the Y’s food distribution program and provide members with access to vaccinations against COVID-19.
The Y, which has given out more than 270,000 pounds of food and 225,000 meals to children and families in need during the pandemic, received a truckload of 100,000 meals, including oatmeal, minestrone soup, and rice and beans, from St. Joseph’s on April 12.
The dehydrated meals have a shelf life of roughly two years and can be easily prepared by just adding hot water. The Wayne Y will store the meals on site and use them to supplement food donations from the Community FoodBank of New Jersey and Wayne United outreach initiative. During a Youth Service Day on April 24, local teens will help the Y to repackage the food to provide a family of four with two weeks worth of meals.
On April 24, the Y will also kick off its Play Together initiative, a program in partnership with St. Joe’s and Wayne Township that’s meant to encourage physical fitness and interaction among kids.
Amid school closures, economic uncertainty, and record-breaking unemployment, more families and individuals have been relying on local resources for meals. Shortly after the COVID outbreak forced schools and businesses to shut down last spring, the need for food assistance increased 68 percent in Passaic County alone. More than 1.2 million people in New Jersey reportedly face hunger, including nearly 400,000 children.
The Wayne Y has been working with the Wayne public school district and other community partners through the Wayne United collaboration to provide food for members and local families affected by the pandemic. The Y currently assists around 150 families a week. With the additional supplies from St. Joseph’s, the Y will be able to continue its weekly distribution into the summer months.
“St. Joseph’s has already been an incredible Signature Partner to the Y, particularly in our chronic disease prevention programming, and we are grateful they have offered to support our efforts to address food insecurity in the community. This collaboration enables us to sustain our distribution supplies so that we can continue to serve as a reliable location for many families who receive food each week,” said Laura Tiedge, Executive Director of the Wayne Y.
“Lack of access to affordable and healthy foods puts adults and children at greater risk for chronic illness and developmental delays,” said Jennifer Mendrzycki, Senior Vice President of St. Joseph’s Health. “We are very proud to work with our partnering organizations to reduce food insecurity and improve the overall health of our community.”
Covid Vaccinations
The Wayne Y is also working with St. Joseph’s to help eligible YMCA staff and members receive vaccination appointments. Individuals can submit their contact information to staff by scanning a QR code at the Y, which the Y will then provide to St. Joseph’s. The Y has also been contacting members – mostly seniors in need of assistance – directly. The Y has already secured appointments for more than 40 employees and members.
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About the Y
Established in 1885, the Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges invests in its diverse communities to promote wellness, safety and quality of life for children, adults and seniors. Its seven branches in East Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Hackensack, Hardyston, Stillwater and Wayne are committed to nurturing the potential of kids, promoting healthy living and fostering a sense of social responsibility through an array of programs. Some 35,000 people belong to the Metro Y, which awards more than $2.8 million annually in direct and indirect financial assistance.
About St. Joseph’s Health
Founded in 1867 by the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth, St. Joseph’s Health is a world-class hospital and healthcare network supported by over 5,000 leading and renowned physicians, nurses and care teams. The health system operates a full continuum of care, including a regional tertiary care medical center (St. Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson), a state-designated children’s hospital (St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Paterson), an acute care medical center (St. Joseph’s Wayne Medical Center in Wayne Township), a rehabilitation and long-term care facility (St. Joseph’s Healthcare & Rehab Center in Cedar Grove), a comprehensive home care program (Visiting Health Services of New Jersey), and multiple outpatient diagnostic and treatment centers throughout Northern New Jersey.
