Bromley Center celebrates expanded food pantry

HAMILTON, N.J. — With the summer months almost here, parents of young children on break from school will be responsible for preparing all their meals unless they enlist the assistance of someone else like the new and improved food pantry at the CYO at Bromley Neighborhood Civic Center in Hamilton.

Recently, the CYO Bromley Center launched the grand re-opening of the newer and bigger space for its food pantry, which was at a 60-square-foot location and has relocated across the hall to a 300-square-foot space, where the CYO Bromley staff hopes to enhance better quality outreach to the community.

Hamilton Mayor Kelly Yaede, who cut the ribbon at the grand re-opening said, “to see the CYO at the Bromley Center expand their food pantry emphasizes the township’s commitment to serving more residents.”

An application and approval for a community development block grant from Hamilton Township made the expansion of the food pantry possible. Donors, supporters and volunteers generously give their money, food and time.

“The idea of the expansion began when we saw how generous businesses and individuals could be with all their donations,” said Patrick Hardiman, Yardville branch/Bromley Center director.

The new pantry includes new features such as shelves for more foods, a state-of-the-art stainless steel freezer and a refrigerator that the Assistant Director of the Bromley Center, Donna Marie Clancy suggested will allow them to serve Hamilton residents more efficiently.

Tina Baah, a mother of three who lives in Hamilton, said she has limited income and the food pantry helps her feed her children. She commends the food pantry and its staff for assisting her family.

“It’s very excellent. It’s very, very good. My daughter came to summer camp and Ms. Donna told me about it and that same day I signed up.”

The Executive Director of the CYO, Tom Mladenetz, acknowledged and thanked donors and supporters of the food pantry and of the other programs at the CYO.

He mentioned their partnership with Hamilton Township officials – the leadership of Mayor Yaede, the administrative team there; community supporters that include businesses such as Shop Hamilton; Department of Agriculture; Doctors Express; churches; and individuals.

“They recognized the importance of what we do here and really want us to be successful in reaching out to serve the community as best we can,” said Mladenetz.

According to the food pantry staff, one of the most successful services of the food pantry is the 8-weeks USDA summer lunch program, where the CYO has partnered with the Department of Agriculture and Mercer Street Friends to make this happen.

For this program, the feeding site receives children ages 5 to 18 from Mondays through Fridays at 1pm. Otherwise, the food pantry is generally opened Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30 to 11:30 am and 2:30pm.

Generally, the programs are designed to distribute federal and state funded food and privately donated food to eligible, needy persons of Hamilton Township with proof of income and ID on a once a month basis.