BLOOMFIELD, NJ -  The Bloomfield Men's basketball team came through in the clutch today, but not on the basketball court.  This morning the Deacons traveled to the New Jersey Food Bank to lend a helping hand to those who really need it.  The men's team provided assistance in many areas but mainly helped out by packaging food that will be delivered to various places in New Jersey to impoverished families. 

The FoodBank distributes over 21 million pounds of food and groceries a year, ultimately serving 1,656 non-profit programs including 436 programs served by its Partner Distribution Organizations (PDOs). Through their combined efforts, they assist three-quarters of a million low-income people in 18 of New Jersey's 21 counties.

Did You Know...

• One out of every five New Jersey families does not earn enough to afford the basic necessities - housing, food and child care - although 85 percent of these households have at least one family member who is working. Only 6 percent of them receive welfare.
   
• Over 738,900 people in New Jersey live at or below the federal poverty level. There are 1.6 million people in the state who are counted among the working poor (below 185% of the federal poverty level).
   
• The official federal poverty level for a family of four in 2008 is $21,200 a year.
   
• Driven by a painful mix of layoffs and rising food and fuel prices, the number of Americans receiving food stamps is projected to reach 28 million in the coming year, the highest level since the aid program began in the 1960s.

For more information on how you can follow the Deacons lead and lend a helping hand, visit the New Jersey Food Bank online at http://www.njfoodbank.org/