Many of us are unaware of the countless people who suffer from hunger in our immediate neighborhoods. Hunger affects people in every county in New Jersey, including our neighbors, coworkers, and the children in our children’s schools. According to Feeding America, nearly one million people – one in nine – suffer from hunger in the Garden State, and more than 260,000 of those are children.
If you are fortunate enough to have food on the table and want to help others in your community, consider getting involved with a nonprofit or food bank. Or if you are looking for food or resources for yourself, a family member or friend, consider:
This organization works to eliminate food insecurity for families in the greater Union County area. The group identifies distribution sites to ensure people have access to nutritious meals.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary this fall, New Jersey’s first food rescue organization collects fresh, high-quality food that would otherwise be thrown away and delivers it to partners like soup kitchens, homeless shelters and senior living facilities. If you own a restaurant, catering company or other small business that would like to donate food, or if you’d like to volunteer, reach out.
Serving Monmouth and Ocean counties, Fulfill focuses on food distribution and more by offering cooking classes, SNAP enrollment assistance, affordable health insurance counseling, and tax refund referrals. Fulfill is committed to providing resources to people in need so they can become financially secure and independent.
The state’s largest food bank distributes food to over 800 pantries and soup kitchens (and operated around the clock at the height of the pandemic). Both the Hillside and Egg Harbor Township warehouses are open for volunteers and food donations. The most urgently needed foods include canned protein, shelf-stable milk, canned fruits and vegetables, peanut butter, pasta, rice and beans. Non-food items in demand include diapers and feminine hygiene products.
The St. James Social Service Corporation, located at 604 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Newark, operates a food distribution center and the Soul Food Café soup kitchen, serving an average of 175 people daily.
Each year, the Food Bank distributes nearly 19 million pounds of food to people in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Salem counties. According to Feeding America, one in seven children in these regions suffers from hunger, a statistic the Food Bank wants to change. Its health and wellness program offers initiatives to increase nutrition awareness, including cooking classes.
The Mercy Center in Asbury Park recently expanded its food distribution to provide easier access for people with disabilities and emergency services. In addition to healthy food, the Mercy Center covers essential needs such as personal care products and clothing.
In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “Everyone can be great because everyone can serve.”
(RELATED: Uniting NJ communities around food, one dumpling at a time)
Steve Adubato, PhD, is the author of six books, including his latest, Lessons in Leadership 2.0: The Tough Stuff. He is an Emmy Award-winning host 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 video podcast, “Lessons in Leadership,” with co-host Mary Gamba, airs Saturdays at 5 p.m. and Sundays at 10 a.m. on News 12+. For more information, visit stand-deliver.com.
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