Join the Fight Against Hunger: Small Change, Big Impact with “Dollars for Dinners”

As summer approaches, many of us look forward to family BBQs, vacations, and a break from the fast pace of the year. But for too many of our neighbors, summer only magnifies a harsh reality—an empty pantry, skipped meals, and the painful uncertainty of where the next meal will come from.

That’s why this July and August, The Community Chest is launching Dollars for Dinners—a powerful initiative inviting employees from all kinds of businesses to donate just $1 to $5 per week from their paychecks to combat food insecurity right here in Bergen County.

This campaign is more than a fundraiser. It’s a call to action.

September is Hunger Action Month—a time to raise awareness and inspire real change. But the fight doesn’t start in September. It starts now, with you.

Food insecurity affects 1 in 9 residents in Bergen County. Even more devastating, 30% of those affected are children. These are not just statistics—they are students in our schools, families in our neighborhoods, and seniors who’ve spent a lifetime building our community.

And the effects go beyond hunger:

• Children in food-insecure homes are more likely to struggle academically
   
• Face developmental delays
   
• Have an increased risk of chronic health issues, like anemia or asthma
   
• Are 19% more likely to end up in the emergency room
   

We know times are tight for many. But this campaign is built on the power of collective giving.
A few dollars a week may not change your budget, but it can change a life.

• $1/week provides fresh fruit for a child’s lunchbox.
   
• $3/week supports nutritious dinners for a senior who lives alone.
   
• $5/week helps stock a local food pantry with essentials for an entire family.
   

With hundreds of employees across businesses participating, those small amounts multiply into a massive wave of support for those who need it most.

Every dollar collected in July and August will be donated directly to local food pantries and organizations making sure families in need get the help they deserve. This is community helping community, neighbors lifting each other up in a moment of need.