August 31, 2020

​Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) recently donated more than 83,000 pounds of food items to 10 food banks and religious organizations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania following Tropical Storm Isais. The items had been purchased to feed thousands of utility workers who assisted in restoring service to approximately 800,000 customers after the storm severely impacted the region.

JCP&L’s donation was supplemented by an additional FirstEnergy Foundation contribution of $50,000 to benefit food banks in the region.

Delivery of fresh vegetables, beverages, dairy products, meats and frozen goods from JCP&L staging site locations to organizations in Monmouth, Ocean, Union, Morris, Sussex, Hunterdon and Warren counties in New Jersey and North Hampton County in Pennsylvania was completed on Aug. 17. The donation of approximately $71,000 worth of food can provide about 100,000 meals for families in need. Combined with the FirstEnergy Foundation donation, area food banks received more than $120,000 in local community support from the company following Tropical Storm Isaias recovery efforts.

“Our storm restoration efforts require a massive operation behind the scenes to support workers who come to New Jersey to help restore service to our customers,” said Jim Fakult, president, JCP&L. “We are pleased to be able to use the surplus resources from our staging sites and the donation from the FirstEnergy Foundation to help local families put food on their tables during these difficult times.”

John Anderson, vice president, External Affairs (in light blue shirt behind steps), and Elaine Vincent, advisor, Community Involveent (wearing polka-dot top) and members of three area churches help load donated food items at the Monmouth Park staging site in Oakhurst, N.J.