Healthy Food Donation Ideas at http://bit.ly/FoodPantryDonations

The next “Buy One, Bring One” food drop-off sponsored by the Somerset County Board of Freeholders will be Friday, Sept. 21. 

“Local food banks and food pantries are still struggling,” Freeholder Director Patricia Walsh said. “In many cases, supplies are the lowest they have ever been, while demand has increased tremendously.”  The program has collected more than 13,000 pounds of donations since she launched it in July 2010.

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
• Environmental Education Center, 190 Lord Stirling Road, Basking Ridge
• Lord Stirling Stable, 256 S. Maple Ave., Basking Ridge

Several towns have BOBO Fridays bins in their municipal buildings:  Bedminster, Franklin, Green Brook, North Plainfield and Raritan.

The following county branch libraries also have BOBO Fridays bins:  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.