Tiffany Bohlin, owner of Blue Forests Farm in Lacey, Ocean County, did not anticipate a blueberry harvest this year due to her regular pruning cycle. However, she was surprised by an unexpected large yield and decided to donate the bounty to Fulfill, the food bank serving Monmouth and Ocean counties.
Bohlin reached out to Triada Stampas, President & CEO of Fulfill, and Susan Kyrillos, Chairwoman of the Fulfill Board of Trustees, offering the donation. The 80,000 pounds of blueberries could provide single servings for about 245,400 people.
The task of harvesting and distributing such a large quantity was taken up by Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) and its Women in Leadership employee resource group. Sam McGarrigle from JCP&L emphasized the importance of partnering with organizations like Fulfill that support those in need.
Triada Stampas highlighted that fresh produce is highly sought after but rarely donated. She stated that perishable items like protein, produce, and dairy are most nutritious yet often expensive.
Recognizing the significance of this initiative, Doug Mokoid, President of FirstEnergy’s New Jersey operations, joined volunteers along with Kyrillos, Stampas, and New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy to assist in the harvest.
New Jersey has historical ties to blueberry cultivation. JCP&L has been a consistent supporter of Fulfill's mission to distribute fresh produce. In 2022 and subsequent years, their Green Team volunteers planted fruit trees at Fulfill’s Neptune headquarters.
Doug Mokoid expressed pride in supporting Fulfill's efforts to deliver food to families in need across New Jersey.