Who We Are

17 years ago, I was working at Johnson Park Elementary School and had to separate two third graders who were fighting over a granola bar – they were sad, stressed, and not performing well in school. Though it may seem surprising that in a town like Princeton, hunger could be an issue…unfortunately, it is. As soon as I could, I started supplying fruits and other snacks – first from my bag and as word spread and demand grew, I expanded to my car. With lots of help and support from my friends, we eventually began seeing our families and neighbors every week at the Pannell Center. The day before the Covid pandemic really took hold, we had an enormous line of more than 200 people waiting for anything we could give. Once the pandemic hit, we had to pivot, which meant replacing long crowded lines with deliveries to individual homes. As a true community effort, we relied on our local supermarket, McCaffrey’s, who continues to be an incredible partner to us. The township even provided us with storage space and a place to pack bags of food that would be delivered to our Princeton families in need. As the number of families in need of help continued to grow, we began collaborating with other organizations such as Cornerstone, PMA, Share my Meals, PPS gardens, and our local farmers, Tomas and Trevor – by the end of 2020, we had helped to feed approximately 2,500 members of the Princeton community. Throughout the following years, fueled by our dedicated volunteers, we have continued to deliver bi-weekly groceries to our fellow Princetonians. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you all for showing up, for supporting us, and for caring about our neighbors.

I met our founder, Liliana, when my three children were in elementary school.  She told me about the Pantry that she had started and I knew I wanted to be a part of it.  The Pantry has expanded and changed since then but the core value is the same - neighbors helping neighbors. Our team always says that Pantry days are some of their happiest days!  We have an amazing community that I love being a part of.

I joined PMFP as I recognized the unfortunate impact food insecurity has on many members of the Princeton community and I wanted to help. I truly enjoy working with my fellow volunteers in this women led, 100% volunteer grass roots organization.

I became involved with PMFP when a friend shared with me the percentage of Princeton families that were food insecure. I had been working for several non-profits and realized I also wanted to give back to my community. I love being part of an organization with so many like-minded women who are all focused on the same goal to feed our neighbors and support each other. I am very proud of the growth of PMFP, starting with distributing random donated food, to now distributing fresh and healthy groceries to over 250 households.

I have been volunteering with PMFP since its early days in the community center and believe deeply in the mission of helping neighbors in need, specifically with healthy food. I am a career educator with degrees in biology and education and social policy.

I wanted to find a meaningful way to give back to the community, and the issue of food insecurity really spoke to me. When I learned about this incredible community of volunteers dedicated to providing fresh produce and protein to those in need, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to make a difference. What I enjoy most about being part of this organization is the opportunity to make a positive impact on people’s lives. Delivering fresh produce, meat, eggs, and milk to families who may be going through a difficult time is incredibly rewarding. Seeing the relief on their faces and knowing that even a small act of kindness can bring comfort and hope makes every effort worthwhile.  

I met Lilliana when my boys first started at JP in 2017. She told me about the Pantry and the number of our families who faced food insecurity. Growing up in a food insecure home, I saw it as an opportunity to try and help others in a meaningful way. I started as an egg carton collector and over the years have been blessed to watch some of the most amazing women on the planet turn PMFP into something truly special. Pantry is my happy place.

• I was happy to get involved with the PMFP right before the andemic.  Amy Lansky told me about the organization and I was excited to lend a hand. From the first time I volunteered, I was hooked on helping. I always look forward to Pantry day because of the good feelings you get when you are helping others as well as the positive vibes you get from working together with your community.  Volunteering at the Princeton Mobile Food Pantry and joining the Board has been such a great addition to my life.