Imagine not knowing where your next meal is coming from, or having to choose between spending money on food to feed a family and paying rent—that’s a reality faced by over 1 million residents of New Jersey. Fifty years ago, Kathleen DiChiara saw this need in her community and began distributing food from the back of her station wagon, which eventually morphed into a statewide initiative. Today, the Community Food Bank of NJ has grown into the largest anti-hunger, anti-poverty organization in the state and has a network of over 800 pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and distributes more than 90 million nutritious meals annually, relying on donations and volunteers. Read more about what the Community Food Bank of NJ does and how you and your family can get involved to help combat hunger in our state. (Featured photo credit: @cfbnj)
Ensuring Everyone Has A Meal With The Community Food Bank of NJ
Feeding the community
The Community Food Bank of NJ is on a mission to end hunger for approximately 1 million NJ residents, including 260,000 children, who wake up in the morning and don’t know where their next meal is going to come from. Through donations and volunteer hours, they distribute food to more than 800 community partners, including food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters. But it’s not just about providing food—CFBNJ spearheads programs to address the root causes of hunger, including nutrition education, job training, diaper and hygiene programs, and grocery food rescue. The group works with people of all ages, ranging from little ones to seniors, and everyone in between. So, how does it work? Anyone who is struggling can apply online for SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) assistance through the Community Food Bank of NJ. From there, the multi-lingual SNAP Navigators at the food bank work to ensure that families and individuals receive the food assistance they need. They can also help those who qualify with ways to access other supports, such as utility assistance, free school lunches, and additional resources, to ensure that no one goes hungry.
How you can get involved
The Community Food Bank of NJ is a community-based effort that relies on donations and volunteers to assist those in need. It’s how they can help feed so many other families and individuals in NJ, and with recent cuts to federal programs, the urgency to help is even greater. Your contribution can make a real difference in the lives of those who are struggling. A simple way to support CFBNJ is to make a monetary donation, including recurring gifts, planned gifts, or tributes, or plan a fundraiser that donates the proceeds to CFBNJ. Want to be more hands-on? Consider signing up for hands-on volunteering at CFBNJ warehouses in Hillside or Egg Harbor Township, where you can bring along family members (ages 12 and up) or friends to help pack, sort, and distribute food.
You can also donate food and goods to local food pantries that send to CFBNJ, or set up your donation drive where others can participate. While all donations are greatly appreciated, certain items, such as canned fruits and vegetables, whole-grain pasta and rice, and low-sugar cereals, are particularly beneficial. These items provide essential vitamins and nutrients that may be lacking in the diets of those who rely on food assistance to meet their needs. Additionally, non-food items, such as toiletries and hygiene products, can help alleviate the financial burden faced by families and individuals struggling to make ends meet. Every bit can help, and with that, the Community Food Bank of NJ gets closer to realizing its goal of eliminating food insecurity.
To learn more about the Community Food Bank, visit their website, Facebook page, and Instagram account.
Community Food Bank of NJ
31 Evans Terminal
Hillside, NJ 07205
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