Major Elizabeth Rogan inspects what’s left on the shelves of the Salvation Army food pantry Thursday. (Photo by Danielle Tepper. Click to enlarge)
By DANIELLE TEPPER
The Red Bank 
“It came to my attention yesterday,” Major Elizabeth Rogan told redbankgreen Thursday. “It looks like we’re not that empty, but we are, because there’s not a lot of the main staples that we need. I don’t want to be down to absolutely nothing.”
The pantry, which is kept stocked primarily by donations with a little help from local food banks, currently has large gaps on the shelves where some of the items most frequently given away usually sit.
“WeÂ’re totally out of milk, peanut butter and jelly, and soup. ItÂ’s not really enough to make lunches for kids,” said Rogan, who doubles as the corp’s local pastor. “We can still make a couple dinners, and there’s enough that someone coming in would at least get something to eat, but we need more.”
According to Rogan, who’s been at her job just five weeks, this is the first time it’s happened in a while and sheÂ’s not quite sure why.
“We service almost 23 towns in this area, around 10 to 15 families a week, and those people that come in get enough food to last them three days,” Rogan said. “ThereÂ’s a lot of need in this area.”
With that in mind, the food currently on the shelves wonÂ’t go very far. A full two shelves of dry cereal will barely last a month, she said.
As Rogan’s letter said, in order to serve the community, “We need the community’s help.”
Needed items include:
• Canned goods (vegetables, fruits, meat, fish, soups, tomato sauce, apple sauce, stew, chili, beans, ravioli, etc.)
• Dry cereal/ oatmeal
• Pasta/noodles/macaroni and cheese
• Dried milk
• Peanut butter/jelly
• Potatoes
• Canned or boxed juice
Donations may be brought to 180 Newman Springs Road Monday through Friday between the hours of 9-12 and 1-4. Call 732-747-1626 for more info.
