The following press release was submitted by Cross River Bank: 

Cross River Bank, one of New Jersey’s leading community banks, has made the single largest cash donation to Teaneck’s Helping Hands Food Pantry, to help stem hunger in the township.  The Thanksgiving Project is a joint venture between the Township of Teaneck and the Helping Hands Food Pantry.

The generous donation comes at a critical time for the pantry. With the holiday months of November and December upon us, the demand for food is at its greatest. Providing the means for the food pantry to be prepared and fully stocked for the holidays is in line with the Bank’s founding principles of community involvement and civic responsibility.

“Cross River Bank is proud to help support the vital work of the Helping Hands Food Pantry and assist in defraying the cost of holiday preparations for Teaneck residents,” said Gilles Gade, Chairman and CEO of Teaneck-based Cross River Bank. “We encourage full participation from other local businesses to step up and support this initiative.”

In addition to Cross River Bank, Hope Presbyterian Church, Holy Name Medical Center, Teaneck Rotary, Davis, Saperstein & Salomon P.C., Century 21, Checkmark Plus, Inc., Athens Bakery, and Bogota Savings Bank have also made contributions to the food drive.

“We are grateful to the members of the business community who have come forward and helped this important cause at this time of year. We urge other business leaders to join us in this important campaign. There is still time to get involved and help those in need in our community,” said Helping Hands Food Pantry Director, Janice E. Preschel.

“While unfortunately, there is a need all year long in our community for assistance in providing for these families, the extended power outages as a result of the recent Nor’easter was yet another blow to many of the families, as a result of which we need to help,” said Councilman Yitz Stern. “The community is grateful to all the businesses who have stepped forward to help this worthy cause.”

Stern also recognized Township Manager William Broughton; Director of Social Services Gloria Andrade; and building department employee Rosalind McLean for their assistance with the food drive.

There is still time to participate in the food drive by contacting the food pantry at www.teaneckpantry.com. 

Cross River Bank was founded as the bank of the 21st century, at the crossroad of technology and banking. Cross River Bank offers personal and business banking and lending.  For more information, visit www.crossriverbank.com or call (877) 552-7255.  Cross River Bank is a member of the FDIC.