AT&T Contributes More than $20,000 to Help New Jersey Organizations Tackle Food Insecurity

BEDMINSTER, NJ Dec. 22, 2021

AT&T contributed more than $20,000 to three New Jersey organizations to help families in Paterson and Somerset County who are dealing with food insecurity.

“Food insecurity is a problem in many places, and it’s been exacerbated by the pandemic and disasters like Tropical Storm Ida. Our contributions to these organizations will enable them to help New Jerseyans in need,” said Joseph Divis, interim president, AT&T New Jersey.

In the days immediately following Ida, employees in AT&T’s retail stores in the area collected 135 pounds of non-perishable food that was delivered to one of the organizations, the Food Bank Network of Somerset County, Divis added.

“We are extremely grateful to AT&T for contributing more than $10,000 to community organizations in Paterson to combat hunger and food insecurity in the city,” said New Jersey State Senator Nellie Pou (District 35). “CUMAC ECHO, Inc., serves more than 2,500 people every month who would go to bed hungry without their assistance. And Oasis – A Haven for Women and Children provides both hot meals and emergency food bags to women and children living in poverty. AT&T’s support is especially welcome in this holiday season.”

“Hunger is not a simple problem and too many members of our communities worry about where their next meal will come from. I am grateful for this generous donation from AT&T New Jersey so that the Food Bank Network of Somerset County can continue its mission of distributing food and other basic human needs to those less fortunate in a manner that recognizes and advances self-worth and human dignity,” said New Jersey State Senator-Elect Andrew Zwicker (District 16).

The organizations and contribution amounts follow:

Food Bank Network of Somerset County: $10,000
The organization used the contribution to purchase food items at discounted bulk rates in order to meet the increasing need of providing food assistance to residents facing food shortages.

“The Food Bank Network of Somerset County is extremely grateful for the generous donation provided by AT&T. It is only through the amazing support that we receive from outstanding organizations like AT&T that we are able to continue our work to provide for those in our communities that are in need,” said Steve Katz, executive director, Food Bank Network of Somerset County.

CUMAC ECHO, Inc. (Paterson): $5,480
This organization is dedicated to addressing the root causes of hunger and poverty.  This organization regularly serves more than 2,500 food insecure individuals a month.

“At CUMAC, we believe that ending hunger is about more than giving people food. It is about building up a community by giving power back to the residents of the communities and partnering with families to help them access the resources they need to thrive. CUMAC empowers families through food justice and we are grateful for the support of AT&T as we serve our community with dignity,” said Mark Dinglasan, executive director of CUMAC.

Oasis – A Haven for Women and Children (Paterson): $5,480
The contribution will help Oasis carry out educational and social service programs that help women enter and succeed in the workforce and help children flourish academically, including focusing on issues related to food insecurity.
“We are incredibly grateful for the gift from AT&T. Those funds are being used to provide hot meals and emergency food bags to women and children living in poverty. The food we can distribute with this funding makes a real difference for families who are suffering from the lingering economic impact of this pandemic. Oasis simply could not provide these antipoverty services without the support of donors like AT&T,” said Laetitia Cairoli, Ph.D., director of development, Oasis – A Haven for Women and Children.

*About Philanthropy & Social Innovation at AT&T
We’re committed to advancing education, creating opportunities, strengthening communities and improving lives. AT&T Connected Learning is a multi-year commitment to bridge the digital divide and narrow the homework gap, so today’s learners are connected with skills, resources, and opportunities for success in school and in life. Since 2008, we’ve committed over $600 million to programs that help millions of students across all 50 states and around the world, particularly those in underserved communities.