REPLENISH Hosts 8th Annual ‘Dine Below the Line’ Hunger Awareness Cooking Competition

*For photos, click here*

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ - Middlesex County's food distribution program, REPLENISH, hosted its annual Dine Below the Line hunger awareness cooking competition at the Alexander Jankowski Community Center in Perth Amboy on Tuesday, September 9. The event brought together local chefs, food pantries, community leaders, and residents for an evening focused on destigmatizing food insecurity, raising funds, and celebrating healthy, affordable meals made with food pantry staples.

Viral celebrity guest judge and Middlesex County resident Tariq the Corn Kid, joined by Middlesex County Commissioners Claribel A. Azcona-Barber, Leslie Koppel, Chanelle Scott McCullum, Shanti Narra, and Charles E. Tomaro, helped crown this year's champion: Marciel Gentile of Marciel's Kitchen representing Grace for Dinner of Kendall Park as the 2025 Dine Below the Line Champion.

"Dine Below the Line is an enlightening event that helps our community understand the vital role food pantries play in ending hunger across Middlesex County," said Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios. "We are grateful to REPLENISH, our talented chefs, pantry partners, and attendees for making this event a continued success. Together, we are expanding outreach and strengthening the network that supports our residents in need."

"Every day, REPLENISH works to increase food security across the County-ensuring residents have consistent access to food and essential supplies close to home," said Middlesex County Commissioner Claribel A. Azcona-Barber, Chair of the Community Services Committee. "Dine Below the Line shows how the power of community and collaboration can break down stigma and empower families to turn to pantries without shame - instilling trust, care, and dignity."

Using ingredients commonly found at local food pantries, each chef crafted unique, flavorful, and culturally relevant dishes - proving that healthy, nutritious meals can be made on a budget. More than 100 guests attended the event, sampling dishes and voting for their favorite dish of the night.

This year's competing chefs included:

• Chef Doug Wilson, founder of Dine Below the Line, representing 2021 champion St. Peter's Pantry of Spotswood
• Chef Brian Karluk of Steakhouse 85, the reigning 2022 and 2024 champion, representing Raritan Bay Area YMCA of Perth Amboy
• Chef Marciel Gentile of Marciel's Kitchen and winner of Hulu's Buddy's Holiday Recipe Rumble, representing Grace for Dinner of Kendall Park

REPLENISH currently partners with a network of over 135 organizations throughout Middlesex County. Through tools like the Healthy Food Access Map, residents can easily locate nearby pantries, farmers markets, grocery stores, participants of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and transportation options to access these resources.

HOW TO HELP

To help keep its shelves stocked, REPLENISH accepts donations of non-perishable foods and basic supplies year-round. Individuals can drop items off from 6 am to noon, Monday through Friday, at the REPLENISH Distribution Center at 28 Kennedy Boulevard, around the back of the building. Additionally, monetary donations are always accepted as checks payable to "Feeding Middlesex County." Checks may be mailed to PO Box 781, Edison, NJ 08818, or donations can be made online via the Feeding Middlesex County website at feedingmiddlesexcounty.org.

Individual donations can also be made year-round at any of the permanent collection sites located at libraries in East Brunswick, Edison, Metuchen, Monroe, North Brunswick, Perth Amboy, Piscataway, Plainsboro, South Amboy, South Brunswick, South Plainfield, Spotswood, and Woodbridge.

To learn more about REPLENISH, make a donation, or explore volunteer opportunities, please visit middlesexcountynj.gov/replenish.

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