Although the record-breaking government shutdown has ended, the effects are still being felt nationwide — especially in terms of food.

During the shutdown, recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits lost access. Demand surged at food banks as result, leaving many pantries in a struggle to remain stocked.

Now, with the celebration-packed holiday season in full swing, the need for food remains high for some.

To combat this, New Jersey Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex, announced the launch of endinghungernj.com, an online resource that helps residents find and contribute to local food resources.

“As we approach the holiday season, we are reminded that while many of us are preparing to share meals with the people we love, far too many families are still unsure of how they will put food on the table,” Coughlin said in a press release. “That is not acceptable to me, it is not acceptable in New Jersey, and it is the reason why we’ve taken the position that hunger is not inevitable.

“It’s a problem we can solve when government, nonprofits, businesses, and neighbors all pull in the same direction.”

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Endinghungernj.com is to serve as a one-stop resource for New Jersey families, containing a comprehensive directory of food assistance across the state.

The website provides county-by-county listings of food pantries and community food resources, as well as a directory of statewide advocates and information on state initiatives and legislation.

For those interested in supporting hunger-relief efforts, the website also provides ways to help both within your local community and on a wider scale.

“Simply put, New Jersey refuses to let families fall through the cracks and endinghungernj.com is another step in making that a reality,” Coughlin said.

“Whether it’s through impactful legislation, creating partnerships with food banks, or simply lending a helping hand, we’re committed to doing everything we can to make sure every resident has the dignity and the peace of mind that comes with a full plate.”

Risha Inaganti writes about trending topics across South Jersey for the Courier-Post. If you have a story she should tell, email her at rinaganti@usatodayco.com. Subscribe to stay up to date on the news you need.

A South Jersey mother who was fatally stabbed by her teenage son was described as quiet, kind, and as a dedicated caregiver.

Julissa Serrano, 49, worked as a home health aide for Journey Hospice and lived in the Meadowbrook Condos off Route 40 in Mays Landing.

Police said they responded to her home around 6:05 p.m. Saturday after a 911 call reported a juvenile with a knife.

Officers found Serrano with multiple stab wounds, and she later died at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center.

Neighbors said the normally quiet complex was suddenly filled with police activity.

Mehmet Cicekli, who lives two doors down, said he was at work when the killing happened. He learned what occurred after seeing television news vans outside.

“I’m really shocked,” said Cicekli, 24. “She was quiet, and she was nice.”

One neighbor, who asked not to be identified, said she believed she saw the teenager escorted from the apartment in handcuffs.

“We didn’t find out until the next day,” the neighbor said of Serrano’s death.

The circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, but The Atlantic City Prosecutor’s Office announced they charged Serrano’s 17-year-old son with murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon.

He was taken to Harborfields Atlantic Youth Center pending his first court appearance.

Investigators have not said how he was identified as the suspect.

Serrano had worked for Journey Hospice for three years, regularly caring for patients facing death, said Denise Raymond, the company’s senior administrator.

“She was one of our home health aids,” Raymond told NJ Advance Media. “She was amazing — very loved by her coworkers, by her patients, by her patients’ families and we’re going to miss her.”

Serrano was named employee of the month at least once and earned positive feedback for her care, Raymond said.

“She was just a very positive, upbeat person to work with,” Raymond said. “You couldn’t be in a room with her without smiling.”

Journey Hospice is affiliated with Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey, a nonprofit organization under the Lutheran Christian Church that runs community outreach programs at 18 locations statewide.

The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office declined to comment on the case Tuesday.

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