On Friday September 11, Toni’s Kitchen held its first Neighbors Feeding Neighbors Community-Wide Food Drive. The project was part of a National 9/11 Day of Service where neighborhood “Ambassadors” collected healthy non-perishables in support of Toni’s Kitchen  Backpack Program.  Every week, Toni’s Kitchen provides backpacks filled with nutrious staples for low-income families in our community.

11 Ambassadors hailed from all over Montclair including: Montclair YMCA, St. Luke’s Place, Investor’s Bank, Norwood Ave, Beverly Place, Laurel Place, Lansing Place, The 4th Ward, Upper Mountain Ave, Waterbury Road, and Montclair Pop Up.

Donations also came from Maolis Ave. in Bloomfield and from Caldwell, where the Mount Saint Dominic Field Hockey team contributed to donations raised by Montclair resident Joanne Callahan, who not only collected 12 bags of healthy non-perishables but also raised $319, all in honor of Montclair resident Michael Collins who died on 9/11.

In total, Toni’s Kitchen received $419 in donations to the Backpack Program and over 20 grocery bags filled with canned tuna, brown rice, pasta, tomato sauce, shelf milk, cereal, beans, canned vegetables and peanut butter!  We thank all who participated in helping make our community a healthier, stronger place.

Just a small amount of the food donated to Toni’s during “Neighbors Feeding Neighbors” food drive

Volunteers Joanne Callahan and her daughter Courtney dropping off donations

Young volunteers get into the act!