A TIMELINE OF WHEN OUR PROGRAMS BEGAN and their impact
-2009-
November of 2009 Suzanne Stigers founded “Coupons for Community”
· 30+ volunteers meet on a weekly basis.
· CFC uses donated manufacturer coupons and volunteers shop for 40 food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, domestic abuse facilities and social service agencies in 6 counties in northern New Jersey.
· CFC volunteers conduct fundraisers to raise money.
· Over the last 10 years and using 1000’s of coupons CFC has purchased over $800,000 worth of food and toiletries for barely $170,000.
-2010-
CFC adapted the “100th Day of School” program to show children what 100 pennies can buy
· Students are asked to bring in one toiletry item we use every day, items not covered by food stamps, yet necessities in life.
· Numbers have risen each year with 50 schools participating across 6 counties in northern New Jersey and 1 in Harlem, NY.
· Over the last 10 years, over 84,000 items have been collected and distributed.
2010 CFC started the “Harvest for Community” program
· Local farmers donate their surplus of fresh produce on a weekly basis.
· CFC volunteers pick up and deliver the donations.
· Over the last 10 years, recipients are grateful to receive the tons of fresh food that would otherwise be thrown away.
2010 CFC started the “Seasonal Events” program
· CFC volunteers shop for items for over 1,000 Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets
· CFC volunteers host an annual “Toy Giveaway” that distributes gifts to hundreds of children in need from Dover, NJ to Children’s Hospital of New Jersey in Newark.
· CFC volunteers provide Easter baskets to over 100 families.
2010 CFC started lending support to multiple “Children’s Summer Lunch Programs”
· CFC partners with local food pantries and soup kitchens to provide school children who would normally have their lunch available at school, but do not during the summer months, to provide these children with extra food and toiletries.
2011 CFC started “Cooking with Coupons”
· Families in a homeless shelter learn how to shop with coupons, budget their money and cook healthy meals.
· The goal is to teach a family of four, living on food stamps, how to eat for $50 or less a week.
· Over the last 10 years, hundreds of families have gained the life skill to budget their limited income, cook healthier meals and shop with coupons.
-2013-
CFC started “Backpacks for Community”
· CFC partnered with local schools, food pantries and soup kitchens to provide school children with backpacks filled with needed school supplies. Hair stylists also provided free haircuts to the children and their parents so the entire family was ready to begin the new school year. Lunch is also provided to hundreds of community members. Since the program almost 10,000 filled backpacks have been distributed
· In 2017 CFC partnered with 3 schools in Sussex County to provide Weekend Backpacks filled with food for students who received free or reduced lunches but not have an adequate supply of food over the weekend and returned to school on Monday hungry.