Touch New Jersey
Past And Present
The Food Pantry originally, located at the First United Methodist Church in Mount Ephraim, has been in existence for over 30 years. The pantry's primary function was to help low income families that attended the church. In October, 2003 the present Director Debbie Realey, with the help of the Church's Pastor David Wehrle, saw a need to reach out to low income families in Mount Ephraim and the surrounding communities. Through a joint effort of the four other churches in Mount Ephraim the Mount Ephraim Cares Interfaith Food Pantry was formed with Friday morning hours and served 3 to 4 families per week in a small 8x10 room in the basement of The First United Methodist Church in Mount Ephraim. In March 2004 the pantry became part of the Food Bank of South Jersey and was eligible for government subsidized foods. We recently changed our name to Touch New Jersey Inc. and became incorporated on February 20, 2008 as a non-profit organization.
On March 29, 2008 Touch New Jersey Inc., was blessed with an offer to move the pantry to a larger location. We are now housed in an old church building owned by Sacred Heart Church in Mount Ephraim, New Jersey. We have quickly settled into our new location thanks to the help of our volunteers.
Due to the poor economy, it is not unusual that the Pantry will help more than 1,200 families each month with their food needs. Of those who receive this food, 1,700 are children and 600 are senior citizens, are most fragile populations.
