An outbreak of avian flu earlier this year that wiped out a sizable amount of turkeys and chickens drove up the price of the birds. And now the FoodBank is turning to the public for help.
NEPTUNE -- A shortage of turkeys combined with an increase in the number of struggling families this year has the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties struggling to meet its goal to supply local food pantries.
An outbreak of avian flu earlier this year that wiped out a sizable amount of turkeys and chickens drove up the price of the birds. And now the FoodBank is turning to the public for help.
Carlos Rodriguez, executive director of the FoodBank, said the price increase from $1.12 per pound to $1.31 per pound has left his agency able to buy only 10,000 frozen turkeys with the money it budgeted for this year - a far cry from the 14,000 it needs.
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A donation of 2,000 turkeys from Stop & Shop and McDonald's is scheduled to arrive on Thursday, but that still leaves the FoodBank short by 2,000 birds, he said.
"We're feeding 131,000 people, so 12,000 turkeys is never really enough for the holiday season," Rodriguez said. "This year we've been hit especially hard by the increased pricing and had to reduce our order, while trying to meet a higher demand."
Last year, the FoodBank purchased 12,000 turkeys. Rodriguez said the need is higher this year because more families are struggling and can't to buy turkeys because of the price increase.
"We want families we serve to be able to prepare and enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner at home, with all the trimmings, around their own table," Rodriguez said. "So we're reaching out to our retail partners and to the community to help make up the difference."
Frozen turkey donations can be brought directly to the FoodBank at 3300 Route 66 in Neptune or dropped off at any WindMill business.
Rodriguez said the donations should be made by Nov. 16 in order for the FoodBank to distribute them to pantries in time for Thanksgiving, but turkeys and other food and monetary donations will be needed through the end of the year as well.
The deadly outbreak of avian flu earlier this year, the largest in U.S. history, resulted in the loss of more than 8 million turkeys, including young and breeder stocks, according to the commodity market news reporting service Urner Barry.
MaryAnn Spoto may be reached at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto. Find NJ.com on Facebook.