TOMS RIVER – This was the first year that Toms River Recreation competed in Fulfill NJ’s annual Camp Kids Against Hunger challenge, which encourages students to raise food donations and awareness for their fellow classmates wo may be struggling over the summer break.
The “rookie” title didn’t seem to bother Toms River’s camp kids, however, as day camps at Citta, Cedar Grove, West Dover and Silver Bay Elementary Schools teamed up to collect a whopping 2,872 pounds of food during the challenge – earning them first place.
“The Toms River Recreation Summer Program is outstanding, with nearly 600 children participating each year,” said Toms River Mayor Thomas F. Kelaher. “I’m delighted to see that our kids took first place in the Camp Kids Against Hunger Program at Fulfill as a rookie team. The effort of these children is a direct reflection of their home life and proves that Toms River is a great place to live, work and raise a family.”
Throughout the summer-long challenge, a total of 7,413 pounds of food was collected at day camps across the shore. That amount of food could feed meals to 6,177 children and adults in both Monmouth and Ocean Counties.
According to Fulfill, formerly the Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, this was a record-breaking year that doubled the amount of food brought in last year by camp kids.
