Hundreds of volunteers gathered at Robbinsville High School on July 12 for the ONE Project’s 2025 NJ Hunger Project, an annual event to fight food insecurity across New Jersey.
Organizers said the effort brought together community members of all ages and backgrounds to prepare 151,488 meals for children and families in need.
The milestone event marked the tenth year of the NJ Hunger Project and pushed the ONE Project’s total number of meals packed since its founding to more than one million.
Volunteers worked in shifts, forming assembly lines at long tables throughout the school gymnasium. Local leaders and students worked side by side with parents and children to portion ingredients and seal packages together during the one-hour sessions.
Many parents also teamed up with their young children to volunteer to get the job done together.
The meals consisted of Red Lentil Jambalaya, a recipe developed by nutritionists at U.S. Hunger. Each packet includes rice, red lentils, dehydrated vegetables, and pink Himalayan salt, creating a non-perishable, nutritious, and easy-to-make dish.
All meals prepared during the event were donated to Mercer Street Friends Food Bank, with distribution planned across New Jersey and a priority placed on reaching low-income families in Mercer County.
Organizers said the meals will help children who struggle to access food when school is out of session. According to the ONE Project, one in eight children in New Jersey experiences food insecurity.
The event was made possible through donations from hundreds of local businesses, organizations, and individuals. The Jesse Guleria Memorial Foundation and ACME Markets were named as Food Champion Sponsors for 2025, with each sponsor covering the cost of 30,000 meals.
The ONE Project is a faith and community coalition that addresses social needs through education and volunteerism. The NJ Hunger Project is its flagship annual event, drawing both long-time supporters and new volunteers each year.
Among the returning groups was STEP for a Better Tomorrow LEO Club, which was founded in 2013 and affiliated with Lions Club International in 2019. Its members span from elementary students to adults with graduate degrees and beyond.
