Morgan Stanley Ewing
Pictured (from left) are Michelle Jackson, Ken Stewart, Karl Falkenstein and Lara Sheqoski, a team of volunteers with the Morgan Stanley Wealth Management office in Lawrenceville, filled 200 Send Hunger Packing meal packs. Each pack contained two breakfast meals, two lunch meals and three snacks. (courtesy photo)
The Mercer Street Friends Food Bank in Ewing announced a $25,000 grant from Morgan Stanley to support its Send Hunger Packing, a child hunger initiative that helps to ensure students continue to receive nutritious food during school breaks.
The grant is part of the latest phase in Morgan Stanley's more than $14 million commitment to Feeding America and its network of 200 local food banks that distribute millions of meals every year to children and families across the United States. Over the past three years, food banks like Mercer Street Friends have received more than $4 million from the firm to help launch, expand and sustain critical childhood feeding programs.
"We are thrilled to receive this important grant from Morgan Stanley in support of our efforts to deliver more nutritious meals to children in Mercer County," said Phyllis Stoolmacher, acting food bank director. "Morgan Stanley and its employees provide vital support for Mercer Street Friends by generous contributions like this and volunteering."
Mercer Street Friends' Send Hunger Packing program puts nutritious food directly into the hands of children by providing meal packs that they take home on Friday afternoon. With this program, children who rely on free or reduced price school meals get the nutrition they need, even when they are not in school over weekends or long breaks.
"We are honored to be able to help the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank in its important fight against child hunger," said Morgan Stanley Branch Manager Bob Beijlickian. "Giving back to the communities where we live and work is one of Morgan Stanley's core values."
According to Feeding America's Hunger in America 2014 study, 89 percent of Feeding America's client households with at least one child lack reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.
"Grants like this from Morgan Stanley make a vital difference in our efforts to provide these children with the nutritious meals they need every day," said Nancy Curby, Vice President of Corporate Partnerships for Feeding America.
The Mercer Street Friends Food Bank leads the community response to hunger in Mercer County, working to reduce and prevent hunger through food distribution, nutrition education, weekend and summer meals for children, SNAP outreach and advocacy. Annually Mercer Street Friends distributes 2.5 million pounds of food and groceries to a network of 75 food pantries, shelters, meal sites and school sites.