Liliana Morenilla

Liliana Morenillo primarily works in Princeton Public School, specifically working with children in special education. When she noticed children in her class fighting over food, she realized that it was not just a petty fight; they were hungry. She began to stock up on as many snacks as she could, visiting different food banks around her area. After a while, she realized the entire school did not have snacks for any of the kids in the school. She began collecting even more goods, to the point where the entire trunk of her car was full. After long enough, families began to line up at her car for the items she had on hand. That was when in 2010, Princeton Mobile Food Pantry was created. Located in Princeton Shopping Center next to Rita’s Italian Ice, the vast pantry is stocked with items such as canned goods, clothes, and feminine hygiene for women.

When the pandemic hit in March 2020, the pantry had to put a pause on their pick-up system, and implement deliveries. Some of the families helped through the pantry were getting sick, people were unable to leave their homes, and the shelves in the stores were scarce. Though the pantry did not receive pandemic aid, they did receive private donations and grants. The delivery system ultimately turned out to be more of a success for the pantry, and they continue the service to this day. Morenillo makes it her obligation to create close connections with each person she helps, and accommodates them in every way whether that be providing vegetarian meals or meals according to a family’s culture.

Jennifer Cohan

Jennifer Cohan (right) is the head of public relations and social media at the pantry, and has been good friends with Morenilla well before they began working together. Cohan did not know that Morenilla was running a food pantry until 2020, and could not believe how much of an impact she made in the past decade. “She’s very humble and focused on helping folks, so I’m not surprised she didn’t tell me earlier,” Cohan said. When COVID-19 began to take a toll on the world, Cohan wanted to help Morenilla in any way she was capable. With her knowledge in public relations and HTML, she made the pantry’s website and established social media pages. From this, more donors were able to send their contributions digitally and volunteers could reach out about inquiries. Cohan has become more than just a publicist at the pantry, her work has expanded to packing deliveries every other week and being more involved with the pantry’s daily operations.

Anthony Sanfilippo

Sanfilippo began working in the grocery industry in his 20s, and has been in the business for the past 20 years. As steward director at McCaffrey's, he manages the majority of the store operations, and works closely with Morenilla and Cohan at the pantry. Their work together began in 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic was in full effect. Together, McCaffery’s and PMFP collaborated to provide fresh groceries to low-class families every other week, even making orders according to people’s dietary restrictions and cultures. To do this sort of deed for others allows Sanfilippo to take pride in his work, and reassures him that his contributions are what keep things running on all sides. “I think as long as I've been in the grocery industry, I think people look down on all the people that work in the industry. I think we are looked down upon as not important and that we are not contributors to society,” he said. “Our people end up lugging out tons of food. We feel like we are important. We are important. Society does not work without us.”

Photo by Planet Princeton

Next Project

As part of their next project together, McCaffery's and Princeton Mobile Food Pantry have organized a way for customers to donate for the holidays. Customers who wish to participate are asked to buy groceries as usual, however their items will be bagged for donations straight to the pantry. This way, customers can be first-hand in the change they are making, and it is one less step for donors since the items purchased will be picked up by the food pantry. Customers at McCaffery's can also write personal letters on their donations, wishing them well and a happy holiday.

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