Food Insecurity

Food Security Advocacy

Overview
The Junior Leagues of New Jersey State Public Affairs Committee (NJ SPAC) is a nonpartisan coalition representing the Junior Leagues across New Jersey. One of our key advocacy areas is food security.

Our food security efforts focus on:

Advocating for legislation to reduce food insecurity across the state.
Supporting policies that expand access to healthy and affordable food, especially for vulnerable populations like children and low-income families.
Partnering with food banks and local organizations to amplify anti-hunger initiatives.
Raising public awareness about the causes and consequences of food insecurity in New Jersey.

Recent focus areas include:

Advocated for the Breakfast After the Bell program in partnership with Advocates for Children New Jersey. This program helped empower youth to make healthy lifestyle choices and reverse the growing epidemic of childhood obesity.

Through a combination of legislative advocacy, coalition building, and community education, NJ SPAC works to ensure that food security remains a priority on the state's public policy agenda.

Events
On April 26, 2023, SPAC held a Food Insecurity panel. The following were panel participants: Jennifer Nelson (Community Food Bank of NJ); Lisa Pita (Hunger Free New Jersey); Jennifer Schrum (NJ Office of Food Security Advocate); Tristan Wallock (America’s Grow-A-Row); and Michelle J. Wexler (Trenton Area Soup Kitchen). Over 70 people registered to hear the panel.

Bergen County Elizabeth-Plainfield Greater Princeton Monmouth County Montclair-Newark Morristown Oranges & Short Hills Summit
Association of Junior Leagues International
Junior Leagues of New Jersey - State Council