Many of us are unaware of the countless people facing hunger in our own backyards. Hunger impacts people in every county in New Jersey, including our neighbors, coworkers, and the kids in our children’s schools. According to Feeding America, nearly 1 million people—one in nine—face hunger in the Garden State, and of those, more than 260,000 are children.
If you are blessed to have food on your table and want to help others in your community, consider getting involved in a nonprofit or food bank. Or, if you are looking for food or resources for yourself, a family member or a friend, consider the following:
United Way of Greater Union County
This organization works to close the gap of food insecurity for families living in Greater Union County. The group identifies distribution sites to ensure people have access to nutritious meals.
Table to Table
Celebrating its 25th anniversary this fall, New Jersey’s first food-rescue organization picks up fresh, high-quality food that would otherwise be discarded and delivers it to partners such as soup kitchens, homeless shelters and senior facilities. If you own a restaurant, catering business or other small business with food to donate, or if you want to volunteer, reach out.
Fulfill
Serving Monmouth and Ocean counties, Fulfill focuses on food distribution and more by offering culinary training, SNAP enrollment assistance, affordable healthcare insurance guidance, and tax-refund referrals. Fulfill is committed to providing resources for people in need to become financially sound and self-sufficient.
Community FoodBank of New Jersey
The largest food bank in the state distributes food to over 800 pantries and soup kitchens (and worked around the clock in the height of the pandemic). Both the Hillside and Egg Harbor Township warehouses are open for volunteers and food donations. The most needed food items include canned proteins, shelf-stable milk, canned fruits and vegetables, peanut butter, pasta, rice and beans. Non-food items in demand include diapers and feminine-hygiene products.
St. James Social Service Corporation
Located at 604 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Newark, the St. James Social Service Corporation offers a food pantry and the Soul Food Café Soup Kitchen, serving an average of 175 people per day.
Food Bank of South Jersey
Each year, the Food Bank distributes almost 19 million pounds of food to people in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Salem counties. According to Feeding America, one in seven children face hunger in these regions, a statistic the Food Bank looks to change. Its Health and Wellness program offers initiatives on building nutrition awareness, including cooking instruction.
Mercy Center
Located in Asbury Park, Mercy Center’s food pantry recently expanded to increase access for people with disabilities and provide emergency services. In addition to healthy food, Mercy Center addresses crucial needs such as personal care items and clothing.
In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve.”
[RELATED: Uniting NJ Communities Around Food, One Dumpling at a Time]
Steve Adubato, PhD, is the author of six books, including his newest, Lessons in Leadership 2.0: The Tough Stuff. He is an Emmy Award–winning anchor with programs airing on Thirteen/WNET (PBS) and NJ PBS. He has also appeared on CNN, CBS News and NBC’s Today show. Steve Adubato’s Lessons in Leadership video podcast, with cohost Mary Gamba, airs Saturdays at 5 pm and Sundays at 10 am on News 12+. For more information, visit stand-deliver.com.
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