CHEERIOS HONORS KIDS!

Monica Murphy Chosen to Be On Cheerios Box

The FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties is proud to announce that Monica Murphy of Spring Lake Heights has been chosen by ShopRite Partners in Caring program and General Mills to appear on a limited edition Cheerios box.  On Friday at the Wall ShopRite representatives from ShopRite/Wakefern and General Mills unveiled the Cheerios Box and presented a special edition to Monica who was one of four kids chosen in this tri-state area. An audience of approximately 50 people, including the Mayor of Spring Lake Heights, Elwood Malick, and Spring Lake Heights Elementary Superintendent, Ruth Ziznewski, were in attendance.  The FoodBank nominated Monica for her outstanding interest in making a difference in the fight against hunger. 

Monica is an eighth grade student who lives in Spring Lake Heights and has been deemed “a local hunger-fighting hero” by ShopRite and General Mills.  Monica brought an idea to her school to create ‘can art’ with donated canned goods. In this way, the students were not only challenged to design art with canned goods, but also to help those in need in our neighborhoods.  Close to 1800 pounds of food was collected! 

Monica also implemented a food drive with the help of the Mayor of Spring Lake Heights, Elwood Malick, the Coast Star and her school.  Working together in the community resulted in a partnership of spirit and good deed which is a wonderful example of how one person can make a difference.  “Monica is our hunger-fighting hero!” said Susan Kelly, Director of the FoodBank.

The FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties received a $500.00 donation on Friday and Monica’s school received 2,500 Box Tops for Education.  “We are excited to recognize local children who take part in hunger-fighting activities and demonstrate the drive necessary to lead the fight against hunger for the next generation,” said Karen Meleta, spokesperson of ShopRite Partners in Caring.

In Monmouth and Ocean Counties, over 100,000 people live on incomes that put them at risk of hunger, including working poor and families in crisis, low-income children, elderly and disabled. The FoodBank distributes almost 3.5 million pounds of emergency food annually to 250 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other programs, which feed the needy throughout all of Monmouth and Ocean counties.  For more information or holiday drop-off site locations, please call the FoodBank at 732-918-2600 or check out www.foodbankmoc.org.