A local Jersey Shore food pantry is giving back on Valentine’s Day at a Food Is Love event.

The Mercy Nonprofit Center is celebrating the one-year anniversary of their food pantry expansion and their hope is to help the community of Asbury Park. This is one of the two food pantries that are open full-time in the Neptune and Asbury Park areas. Kim Guadagno, the former lieutenant governor of New Jersey, is the executive director of the Mercy Center.

For Tuesday’s event in Asbury Park, food, coats, clothing, blankets, and shoes are being collected. Items needed the most are any canned nonperishable items as well as refrigerated items, frozen meats, cheese, and fish.

Valentine's Day candy will be handed out for the first 100 people who come out to donate. The event is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.