FirstEnergy Foundation’s Hunger Relief Grant to Deliver 2 Million Meals

On Sep 25, 2025

The FirstEnergy Foundation is supporting local communities as part of its Hunger Action Month initiative – awarding $600,000 in grants to 21 New Jersey food banks and pantries. In total, the initiative is granting $2.5 million to 104 hunger relief organizations across New Jersey, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia, marking the Foundation’s largest hunger-relief investment to date.

The foundation’s grants will provide approximately two million meals to families in communities served by Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L).

Food insecurity is a growing crisis across the US, according to Feeding America and the USDA. Over one million people – 11.7% of the population – in New Jersey face food insecurity due to rising prices, climate-related disruptions and supply chain vulnerabilities.

Doug Mokoid, FirstEnergy’s President of New Jersey: “The FirstEnergy Foundation is serving up can-do energy – collaborating with vital local organizations to reduce hunger and increase the availability of healthy, nutritious meals during Hunger Action Month. Food means more than just nourishment – it’s a source of comfort that brings people together and strengthens bonds with a community. Our JCP&L employees are helping fight hunger year-round by volunteering and hosting food drives, reinforcing the importance of that connection.”

Foodbanks receiving grants include:

• Bradley Food Pantry (Neptune City, Monmouth County) – $15,000.
• Catholic Charities’ Hope House (Dover, Morris County) – $15,000.
• Community Foodbank of N.J. (Hillside, Union County) – $25,000.
• Community of Hope Ministries/Churches United for People (Spotswood, Middlesex County) – $10,000.
• Dermer Dreams (Fair Haven, Monmouth County) – $2,500.
• Feeding Middlesex County (Edison, Middlesex County) – $15,000.
• Foodbank Network of Somerset County (Bound Brook, Somerset County) – $25,000.
• Fulfill (Neptune, Monmouth County) – $75,000.
• Hands of Hope (Edison, Middlesex County) – $15,000.
• Interfaith Food Pantry Network (Morris Plains, Morris County) – $75,000.
• Jersey Shore Dream Center (Neptune City, Monmouth County) – $15,000.
• JFCSMC Nourish Pantry (Asbury Park, Monmouth County) – $7,500.
• Lacey Township Food Bank (Forked River, Ocean County) – $15,000.
• Lunch Break (Red Bank, Monmouth County) – $50,000.
• Mercy Center (Asbury Park, Monmouth County) – $50,000.
• NORWESCAP (Phillipsburg, Warren County) – $75,000.
• Project Self-Sufficiency (Newton, Sussex County) – $10,000.
• Rise (Hightstown, Monmouth County) – $50,000.
• Somebody C.A.R.E.S. Inc., Home to the Joel E. Perlmutter Memorial Food Pantry (Whiting, Ocean County) – $10,000.
• Spring Street Community Development (Morristown, Morris County) – $20,000.
• Trinity Center for the Community (Asbury Park, Monmouth County) – $25,000

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