Somerset County’s next “Buy One, Bring One” food drop-off on Friday, Dec. 21, will help meet the continuing demand for food following Hurricane Sandy.

“Families are still recovering from the hurricane,” said Somerset County Freeholder Director Patricia Walsh, who launched the BOBO Fridays program two years ago.  “Although we were fortunate to have had only moderate storm-related damage here in Somerset County, many people’s jobs were impacted by the storm, resulting in greater demand at local food banks.”

Most-needed items include shelf-stable milk, canned meat and fruit, peanut butter and jelly, low-salt soups, cereal, rice and beans.

Look for the blue BOBO Fridays bins at these county locations: Somerset County Administration Building, 20 Grove St., Somerville; Somerset County/Bridgewater Library, North Bridge Street & Vogt Drive, Bridgewater; Park Commission Headquarters, 355 Milltown Road, Bridgewater; and Environmental Education Center, 190 Lord Stirling Road, Basking Ridge.

Towns that have BOBO Fridays bins in their municipal buildings are Bedminster, Bound Brook, Franklin, Green Brook, North Plainfield, Raritan and Watchung.  County branch libraries hosting the bins include the Bernardsville Library, Bound Brook Memorial Library, Mary Jacobs Memorial Library (Rocky Hill), North Plainfield Library, Peapack-Gladstone Library, Somerville Public Library and Warren Township Library.

Canned or boxed food items are accepted.  Personal-care items, including bath soap, deodorant, toothpaste, shampoo and toilet paper, also are collected since these items are not covered by food stamps. For ideas about healthy foods to donate, go to http://bit.ly/FoodPantryDonations

Although the targeted collection schedule is the third Friday of every month, the bins are available every day, so donations may be dropped off at any time during regular business hours at all locations.