Today is National Voter Registration Day. Food banks like Philabundance are on the frontlines to ensure no one goes hungry, but we cannot do this work alone. Strong government policies and programs are needed to alleviate hunger today and end hunger for good.

Elected officials make decisions that impact hunger at the national, state and local level. With each election, we have the power to help feed America. Your vote can help decide the future of crucial programs that provide food assistance, guarantee that kids get free and reduced-price school meals and ensure that ending hunger is a priority for lawmakers.

Philabundance wants to ensure that the people we serve have the information and access needed to participate in our democracy, and have a voice in the political decisions that impact their lives. We received a grant from Feeding America to conduct voter engagement efforts in our New Jersey service area. This grant aims to give food banks the opportunity to empower the people we serve by providing them with the tools, resources and assistance to participate in New Jersey’s upcoming election. New Jersey is one of the few states with a state-level election this year, with the governor’s race on the ballot.

This fall, Philabundance has partnered with five of our Agency Partners in New Jersey to conduct voter registration and provide election information on-site during their food distributions and meal services.  These partners include: Cathedral Kitchen, Cherry Hill Food Pantry, Mid-Atlantic Services Career and Education Center, Rowan University and Victory Assembly of God. We are also partnering with the nonpartisan League of Women Voters, who have helped facilitate these efforts with forms and flyers, technical support and additional volunteers. Our partners have been regularly holding voter engagement activities throughout September and will continue until the voter registration deadline on October 12. We proudly thank our participating New Jersey Partners, Feeding America and the League of Women Voters for making this possible.

Election Day is November 2, 2021. This National Voter Registration Day, get ready to make a difference on Election Day. Register to vote, check voting deadlines, find your polling place and learn more about candidates at Vote.org. Then encourage others to do the same!