Paul V. Profeta’s donation to the NJIT Food Pantry included organic eggs, meats and vegetables. — Courtesy: NJIT
(Editor’s note: Paul Profeta, the president of Paul V. Profeta & Associates, is the publisher of Real Estate NJ.)
The NJIT community showed its heart on Giving Tuesday late last month, raising a record-breaking $24,000 for the university’s food pantry. The outpouring of support will directly impact hundreds of students facing food insecurity, providing them with not only pantry staples but also fresh produce, professional clothing and hygiene items.
“It is an honor to supervise and manage the NJIT Food Pantry, fighting food insecurity and supporting students every day,” said Daniel Waffenfeld, assistant director for Student Life and Operations. “We supply resources and materials to students to help make sure they have the nutrients they need and do not go through the week hungry. I am so happy we have been expanding our offerings to include professional clothes to help students with interviews and internships, hygienic products and essentials to better their college experience.”
The campaign was fueled by the generosity of 249 donors, and kicked off by Ken Gayer of the class of 1985, who matched the first $5,000 in donations. The success of the campaign inspired a contribution of a different kind from Paul Profeta, a member of the Foundation at NJIT’s Board of Directors and a major supporter of the university.
Profeta, well-known as a businessman, educator and philanthropist, loaded up a truck of fresh produce from his organic farm in Hunterdon County and hand-delivered it to NJIT.
“Hunger is one of the most pernicious hardships that people who don’t have the means to feed themselves have to endure,” Profeta said. “It troubles me deeply that this country, as rich as it is, still has so many homeless and hungry people, especially the children. By having a farm, I grow much more food than my family needs, and we give it to soup kitchens, and now we’re giving it to NJIT to help those who need to feed themselves.”
The NJIT Food Pantry, opened in 2019, has become a vital resource for the university community, serving an average of 700 students per month. With the increased support from Giving Tuesday, the pantry expects to serve upwards of 1,000 students in the coming year.
“I was so proud to see the NJIT community come together in such a big way on Giving Tuesday in support of the Food Pantry,” said Rebecca Cole Trump, associate vice president of alumni engagement and giving. “I’m also happy that our campaign inspired this generous donation from Mr. Profeta. When people think of food pantries, they often assume it’s just canned goods and pasta. It’s wonderful that our students in need will receive this fresh food as a complement to pantry staples.”
The success of NJIT’s Giving Tuesday campaign is a testament to the power of community and the unwavering commitment to supporting students in need. With continued generosity, the NJIT Food Pantry can continue to provide vital resources and alleviate food insecurity for the university community.
