The Netcong Emergency Food Bank (NEFB) has been providing food and personal items to the residents of Netcong and surrounding municipalities since the beginning of the COVID pandemic in March 2020.
The NEFB idea was brought to the Skylands Club Rotary by fellow Rotarian Robert Hathaway, a Netcong Borough Councilman, in early March 2020.
Under the direction of Skylands Rotarian, Mayor Joe Nametko and three volunteers, the food bank is open Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Since its inception, the NEFB has provide over 10,000 meals to needy individuals. None of that would be possible without financial support from the Skylands Rotary Club, food items from Madison Rotary’s End Hunger 3.6 program, the Rotary Club of Branchburg and many local residents.
Recently, the students from the Netcong Elementary School's Rotary Early Act Club came to the Netcong Emergency Food Bank to learn more and take part in Rotary's campaign to end hunger.
Mayor Nametko explained Rotary International’s mission to end worldwide hunger and how our food bank plays a part in that mission. During the Early Act student’s visit, the students packaged food items to feed 75-80 people for several days and learned how important a well-balanced ‘grocery bag’ is for those who visit our food bank.
Mayor Nametko will attend the next Early Act Club meeting to brainstorm with the students on how to improve the NEFB and reach more residents who are need.
“I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Mrs. Ann Marie Evans, the Netcong Elementary School Early Act Club teacher/leader,” said Nametko, who is a Paul Harris Fellow and the Skylands Rotary Club’s Rotarian of the Year 2020-21. “She has inspired her group of young men and women to give back to their community and through their efforts, understand the Rotary Four-way test: Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned.”
About The Skylands Rotary Club:
The Rotary Club of The Skylands, founded in 1947, is a local chapter of Rotary International serving Byram Township and Stanhope Borough in Sussex County and Netcong Borough and Mt Olive Township in Morris County. Our Club members - called Rotarians - work, live and play by the Rotary motto "Service Above Self". Our Club’s focus is to support families and children in your community with a budgeted charitable impact in excess of $17,000 per year. Visit the Club online at www.SkylandsRotary.org for more information.