The Honorable Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin, a major advocate of ensuring food for all, visited the Norwescap Food Bank on Monday, July 15 where he toured the Phillipsburg facility, as well as spoke with the Norwescap leadership team and met with several pantry partners.

As part of his advocacy efforts to combat food insecurity across New Jersey, Coughlin learned first-hand about Norwescap programs and services across its five service counties, which includes Warren, Somerset, Hunterdon, Morris, and Sussex. During his visit he spoke with organizational leadership and pantry partners who rely on the Norwescap Food Bank to fill their shelves every day. 

Mark Valli, CEO of Norwescap, and Lisa Weber, Senior Director Food Security and Health Equity for Norwescap, led the tour with Coughlin.

Throughout his career, Coughlin has dedicated himself and his platform to working toward a future in which no family suffers the effects of food insecurity. Speaker Coughlin has increased aid to food banks in the State budget by 500%,  authored legislation to expand free school meals, and increased the monthly minimum SNAP benefits.  He also authored a bill to create New Jersey’s Office of Food Security Advocate, the first in the nation. With the support of other community leaders and organizations like Norwescap, Coughlin has stated he hopes to eliminate hunger in New Jersey by 2030.

“The work you do has a profound impact on those in need,” said Coughlin, addressing the partners in attendance. “What you do on the frontlines is so important. This is a priority. We need to make sure people have food. It’s folks like you who are the best of what we are in New Jersey.”

Among those representing the Food Pantries for the event were Scott Savokinas, Lord’s Pantry at Trinity United Methodist Church in Hackettstown; Rachel Laul, The Outreach Connection in Washington Township (Warren); Jennifer Tavormina, Open Cupboard (Clinton and Washington – Hunterdon and Warren); Jenn Williford, (Fisherman’s Mark in Lambertville; Jeannine Gorman, The Flemington Area Food Pantry in Flemington; Valerie Macchio, The Sparta Community Food Pantry in Sparta; and Christine Parauda, Foodshed Alliance and Local Share, which partners in investing with farmers across Sussex, Warren and Hunterdon counties.

For more information about Norwescap’s Food Bank visit norwescap.org.