With the help of Goya Foods, Wonder Girls Combats Food Insecurity

By Nicole Wainland,

As grocery prices continue to climb and inflation persists, food insecurity is affecting our local communities. In 2024, the average cost per meal is $4.19, rising from $3.77 last year (2).

Food insecurity exists everywhere. In 2021, in Rockland County, New York, the rate of food insecurity reached a staggering 8.2% of the population (1) and 43,000 residents (a 25% increase from 2 years ago) live below the poverty level. Comparably, New Jersey saw a 22% increase in food insecurity in the past year alone (2). About 1 million New Jersey residents are food insecure - about 1 in 8 children. 55% of food-insecure families in New Jersey do not qualify for SNAP benefits provided by the government due to income thresholds (2). In Rockland County, New York, Similarly to New Jersey, half of these people do not qualify for federal nutrition programs (3). Many people do not qualify for federal assistance and must rely on charitable food assistance.

This is where WONDER GIRLS, alongside Goya Foods—the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the United States—steps in to make a difference. Goya generously donated 10,000 pounds of food to support our monthly community service project across all middle and high schools in Rockland and Bergen Counties. With the help of All Season Movers | EVOS, who picked up the food from Goya's headquarters, organized the pallets, and delivered them to each school, our girls were able to come together to pack over 1,200 bags filled with Goya products. These bags were distributed to families in need at various locations, including the Haverstraw Center, Sloatsburg Food Pantry, Montclair State University Student Food Pantry, Rockland Community College Student Food Pantry, Lynn's Warriors Safe Homes for Survivors of Human Trafficking, MEND Hunger Relief Network, and People to People.

We cannot let these families go hungry. Food insecurity is a challenge we can tackle together to help local communities. Together, we can make a meaningful impact and ensure no family in our community goes hungry - one meal at a time.

To be a part of our initiative for next school year, please reach out to info@wondergirlsusa.org.

https://stacker.com/new-york/rockland-county-ny/food-insecurity-rates-rockland-county-ny https://cfbnj.org/feeding-america-study-finds-a-22-increase-in-food-insecurity-in-new-jersey/ https://touchny.org/rockland-community-against-hunger/