With food insecurity at all-time high, particular in the New Jersey and New York areas, hardest hit by COVID-19, United Airline recently donated food that was to be used to serve their customers from Newark Airport. United donated over 15,000lbs. of perishable and non-perishable goods, which was split between their existing local community partners including City Harvest, Food Bank of South Jersey and Community Food Bank of New Jersey. 

“United Airlines core value is connecting people, uniting the world, and that starts within our local communities,” said Jill Kaplan, President of New Jersey/New York for United Airlines. “As a company, we feel it is essential to support where our employees and customers live and work in any possible way during the crisis, including donating food to feed the growing number of families that need assistance.”

“CFBNJ has seen well over 800,000 pounds less in donated food each month so far, since this crisis began,” said Carlos Rodriguez, President & CEO of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. “We’re grateful for our partnership with United Airlines and for this generous food donation, which comes to us at a time when it’s needed most. The nutritious soup, cheese, nuts, and more will go a long way to keep our neighbors in need healthy and well-fed, whether they were already struggling prior to the pandemic or are coming to us for support for the first time in their lives.”

“City Harvest and United Airlines have a strong partnership, especially in tough times, like during the partial government shutdown last year, and we are so grateful that United has again stepped up by donating 6,000 pounds of food, including shelf-stable and frozen meals, for New Yorkers who need it right now amid the COVID-19 crisis,” said Racine Droz, City Harvest’s Director of Food Sourcing and Donor Relations. “We were able to deliver all that food the same day to Morrisania Revitalization Corp., a food pantry in New York City where it was distributed.”

 “With escalating food insecurity impacting South Jersey due to COVID 19, the Food Bank of South Jersey is responding to an over 200 percent rise in food need at this time. It is our mission to provide nutrition, sustenance and hope to children, families, individuals and seniors throughout South Jersey who are facing the painful reality of hunger. We are deeply appreciative of the depth of compassion and true spirit of community care of United Airlines during this unprecedented time,” said Fred C. Wasiak, President & CEO of the Food Bank of South Jersey.