Township Donates $20K to Toni's Kitchen. Will Match up to $20K in Additional Donations.
Will Match up to $20K in Additional Donations
Montclair Township this week donated $20,000 to Toni’s Kitchen and will match up to an additional $20,000 in donations towards the local food ministry’s continued efforts providing meals to those in need during the COVID-19 shutdown.
“Toni’s Kitchen volunteers and staff have been working tirelessly to ensure that everyone in our community has access to nutritious meals,” said Mayor Robert Jackson. “The Township is doing its part to make sure their invaluable work continues during this crisis and beyond. Based on discussions I've had, I believe that the $20,000 will be matched in short order!
Volunteers at Toni’s Kitchen have been working in shifts during the last several weeks cooking and packing thousands of meals for their regular patrons, packing food bags for hundreds of children and their families, and delivering groceries and prepared meals to hundreds of older residents.
To make a donation visit the Toni’s Kitchen website donations page.
The Township would also like to thank the many businesses and organizations helping the Division of Senior Services/Lifelong Montclair with meals and food delivery for Montclair’s older residents. While the Division conducts outreach, signs up older residents, and assigns volunteers, the community has rallied with Toni’s Kitchen to make it all happen.
Antika Grill co-owners Fady Ghazal and George and Nancy Amir currently donate 360 meals per week for older residents.
“Fady, George and Nancy reached out to us and have been unwavering in their commitment to contributing delicious meals during this crisis,” said Senior Services/Lifelong Montclair Director Dr. Katie York.
Rao’s/Sovos Foods, a relative newcomer to the community, this week donated 125 cases of products, totaling 360 jars of pasta sauce, 360 containers of pasta, and 390 cans of soup. Gelati by Mike is providing food donations and volunteering staff time and vehicles to help with deliveries.
Montclair Center Business Improvement District (BID) team members help collect donations and deliver food. The Kiwanis Club of Montclair has been building the volunteer base and training new volunteers, thanks largely to the efforts of the organization’s manager Peter Ebling.
Township Fire Chief John Herrmann and Second Ward Councilwoman Robin Schlager also volunteer their time to help with deliveries while Dr. York oversees the entire operation.