FoodBank Mourns Loss of Beloved Employee to Covid-19

Those at Fulfill of are reeling from this loss.

“It is an incredibly sad day at Fulfill, as we lost a champion for the hungry, a dedicated colleague, and a dear friend,” says Kim Guadagno, Fulfill CEO and President and former Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey.

It is with profound sorrow that Fulfill, formerly called the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, announces the passing of Diana Tennant on April 6, 2020, to complications of COVID-19. Diana had a long history with Fulfill, starting as a volunteer and donor, and then a SNAP advocate. She became an employee 12 years ago, and most recently worked as part of Fulfill's Resources Connections team. The 51-year old from Bradley Beach was a mother of three adult children who also had a grandchild. Grief counselors were on hand at Fulfill in Neptune yesterday for employees.

“There are many heroes of this coronavirus crisis…nurses, doctors, police officers, firefighters, EMTS, and, like Diana, food bankers on the front lines with the public making sure people who need food and services receive help. Her impact serving the community she adored cannot be underestimated. We will carry on Diana’s mission to feed our hungry neighbors. Our deepest condolences to her family and friends,” Kim says.

As a safety precaution, the Fulfill Distribution Center in Neptune has been professionally sanitized. Additionally, all who enter the building must wear masks and gloves, and we have a nurse on staff checking temperatures daily before permitting entry to the building. Social distancing is strictly enforced, and everyone must be at least 6 feet from each other. Everyone on Fulfill property has a personal obligation to ensure social distancing.

Prior to the coronavirus crisis, Fulfill was feeding 136,000 people in Monmouth and Ocean Counties per year, 50,000 of them were children. Fulfill was moving 1 million pounds of food each month for families in Monmouth and Ocean Counties. Now, the demand for food is at least thirty percent greater. In the past 18 days, Fulfill has served an additional 170,000 meals to people in need as a direct result of schools and businesses being closed and people losing their jobs.

Fulfill feeds children, seniors, veterans, and the working poor. Fulfill serves pantries, shelters, and soup kitchens, provides hot meals for children after school, and sends food home for those same children over the weekend during the school year. Fulfill also provides additional services to help our neighbors improve their overall situation. Fulfill assists with tax preparation, connecting people to SNAP (food stamps) benefits, and with job training in our culinary program. It is important to note that all non-food programs are currently on hold during the coronavirus crisis.

Fulfill has earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for the tenth consecutive year. This distinction means Fulfill, a 501 (c)3 charitable organization, outperformed most charities in America in areas of efficiency, fiscal integrity, and effectiveness. In fact, 96 cents of every dollar donated to Fulfill goes directly to feeding the hungry in our community.

Follow Fulfill on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram and please share their messages to help raise awareness about hunger. To donate or volunteer, go to fulfillnj.org. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.