helping-Food Security

Live Plants are EBT SNAP Benefit eligible on Amazon

​Leading efforts to create partnerships across
public, private, nonprofit and community to
​work in collaboration towards food solutions.
​

What would you do if you didn’t know where your next meal was coming from?

There was a time in my life when my family and I faced food insecurity—a very difficult period that left a lasting impact on me. It opened my eyes to the reality that so many people, including those you’d never suspect, struggle with food needs every day. Many are too proud to ask for help.

That experience made me a lifelong supporter of food banks and organizations that fight hunger. I’m proud to work for two employers who share this commitment and go above and beyond to help—RWJBarnabas Health and Fairleigh Dickinson University.

I’m also grateful to my previous employers—ShopRite Wakefern and NJMEP—for their strong support of food security initiatives.

Food insecurity is real, and it affects families and children in every community. Cuts to SNAP and the recent government shutdown have only exacerbated this crisis for so many.

Last week, during our team bonding meeting, we brought food donations for the Red Bank Food Bank—and together, we donated 433 lbs of food, the largest single donation this food bank has ever received!

As we approach the holidays, please consider making a donation. My volunteer organization of 15 years, Neighbors-helping-Neighbors, continues to support this cause.
​

Food Deserts

A food desert is an area that has limited access to affordable and nutritious food, in contrast with an area with higher access to supermarkets or vegetable shops with fresh foods, which is called a food oasis.

Food Banks​

A food bank is a non-profit, charitable organization that distributes food to those who have difficulty purchasing enough to avoid hunger, usually through intermediaries like food pantries and soup kitchens..

Restaurants helping in need

Unique programs where nonprofits spend grant money buying meals from restaurants in need for those in need.
​World Central Kitchen
Founder: José Andrés
Founded: 2010  see Wikipedia

Nutrition

Nutrition is about eating a healthy and balanced diet. Food and drink provide the energy and nutrients you need to be healthy.


​Food security 

is the measure of the availability of food and individuals' ability to access it. According to the United Nations' Committee on World Food Security, food security is defined as meaning that all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their food preferences and dietary needs for an active and healthy life. 

Health

Eating well helps to reduce the risk of physical health problems like heart disease and diabetes. It also helps with sleeping patterns, energy levels, and your general health. ... Some foods can lift your mood, energy levels, and concentration, while others can have the opposite effect.

​Recent data from the USDA and leading food research organizations indicate that food insecurity in the United States remains a persistent crisis, with rates reaching their highest levels in nearly a decade.

According to the Household Food Security in the United States in 2024 report (released in late 2025), the primary national statistics are as follows:

Key National Figures

• Total Affected: Approximately 47.9 million people lived in food-insecure households.
  
  
• Household Rate: 13.7% (about 1 in 7 households) experienced food insecurity, a slight increase from 13.5% in 2023.
  
  
• Children: 14.1 million children (18.4% of all U.S. households with children) lived in food-insecure homes, meaning nearly 1 in 5 children lacked consistent access to enough food.
  
  

Demographic Disparities

Food insecurity does not affect all populations equally. The 2024 data highlights significant gaps based on race and household structure:

Demographic        Group                      Food Insecurity Rate 
Single                     Mothers                              36.8%
Black                      Households                        24.4%
Hispanic/Latinx   Households                         20.2%
White                    Households                          10.1%

Regional and Geographic Trends

• The South: This region continues to have the highest rate of food insecurity at 15.0%.
  
  
• Urban vs. Rural: Food insecurity is significantly higher in urban (16.0%) and rural (15.9%) areas compared to suburban areas (11.9%).

​Emerging 2026 Trends
As of early 2026, experts are monitoring two major shifts that are expected to impact these statistics moving forward:

1. Policy Changes: Significant cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in 2025, are projected to deepen the crisis for millions of families.
   
   
2. Data Availability: In a controversial move, the USDA announced it would discontinue the annual Household Food Security report after the 2024 edition. This means that 2026 may be the first year in decades without a standardized federal benchmark to track national hunger.
   
   

Note: Organizations like Feeding America and the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) are currently stepping up their own independent data collection to fill the gap left by the ending of the federal report.

The landscape for hunger relief is divided between massive national networks and specialized "first responder" organizations. As of 2026, these are the top organizations consistently recognized for their scale, efficiency, and impact on food needs.

1. Feeding America
This is the largest domestic hunger-relief organization in the United States.

• The Network: It connects over 200 food banks and 60,000 local meal programs (pantries, soup kitchens, etc.).
  
  
• Impact: They provide over 5 billion meals annually and rescue billions of pounds of food from being wasted.
  
  
• Efficiency: They are highly rated for transparency, with roughly 98% of all donations going directly into their programs.

2. World Central Kitchen (WCK)
Founded by Chef José Andrés, WCK has become the premier "food first responder."

• Specialty: They focus on immediate crisis relief, deploying chefs to disaster zones (hurricanes, wildfires, or conflict areas) to provide hot, nutritious meals.
  
  
• Economic Boost: Unlike traditional aid, they often pay local restaurants to cook the meals, which helps stabilize the local economy during a crisis.

3. Midwest Food Bank
Known as one of the most efficient charities in the nation, they operate as a "food bank for food banks."

• Cost-Free Model: They distribute food to thousands of other non-profits and disaster sites at zero cost to the recipients.
  
  
• Volunteer-Led: Because they rely so heavily on a massive volunteer network, their administrative costs are nearly non-existent, ensuring almost every dollar reaches those in need.

4. Meals on Wheels America
This organization is the primary lifeline for seniors who are homebound or living in isolation.

• Scope: They support over 5,000 community-based programs across the country.
  
  
• Beyond Food: In addition to providing 221 million meals annually, their volunteers perform "wellness checks" to ensure the safety and mental health of the elderly.

5. No Kid Hungry (Share Our Strength)
​They focus specifically on ending childhood hunger by ensuring kids have access to school-based meal programs.

• Strategy: They don’t just distribute food; they work with school districts to implement "Breakfast after the Bell" programs and provide summer meals when school is out of session.

Specialized Hunger Relief Models
City Harvest -  Urban Food Rescue
Rescues surplus food from NYC restaurants and delivers it to local pantries.

​Wholesome Wave -  Nutrition
Access Pioneers "produce prescriptions" where doctors prescribe fruits and veggies to patients.

Society of St. Andrew - Farm Waste
Organizes "gleaning" where volunteers pick leftover crops from farm fields that would otherwise rot.

Action Against Hunger - Global Malnutrition
World leader in the medical treatment of severe malnutrition in children globally.
If you are looking to support one of these locally, Feeding America's website has a tool that can direct you to the specific food bank serving your immediate zip code.

To support implementation of the Strategic Plan, OFSA is releasing an accompanying Implementation Tactics and Action Planning Toolkit (hereafter referred to as “the Implementation Toolkit”) in early 2026. This resource will serve as a bridge from the “what and why” defined in the Strategic Plan to the “how and who” of work in action. The Implementation Toolkit will provide guidance and practical tools for organizations, coalitions, and sectors to implement relevant strategies through implementation tactics that take into account the assets, challenges, and priorities of their communities.

Join the Movement toward New Jersey Food Security
Advancing food security is about more than food, it is about dignity, equity, health, resilience, and opportunity. This Strategic Plan will only succeed if every sector sees themselves in it and takes action.

• Explore the full Strategic Plan to begin informing and strengthening your food security work.
• Share the Strategic Plan with your networks and partners via our Partner Communications Toolkit.
• Sign up for Strategic Plan updates and implementation tools.

Together, we can build a more coordinated, equitable, and resilient food system, one that ensures all New Jerseyans have access to adequate food, now and in the future.

​Barbara Mintz, SVP, SICI, Helps Shape New Jersey’s First Food Security Strategic Plan
Posted: 3/10/2026

During National Nutrition Month, we are proud to celebrate an important milestone for our state: the release of New Jersey's first-ever, statewide Food Security Strategic Plan – and the leadership of our very own Barbara Mintz, RDN, SVP, Social Impact and Community Investment, who served on the Executive Committee that helped shape this three-year framework.

Through her expertise and cross-sector collaboration with the New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate, this Strategic Plan reflects a community-informed, multidisciplinary approach to advancing reliable and sustainable access to nourishing food for all New Jerseyans. The Plan also highlights RWJBarnabas Health's SNAP Navigator Program, which helps connect eligible individuals and families to vital nutrition benefits.
Grounded in six dimensions of food security – availability, access, utilization, stability, agency and sustainability – the Plan creates a shared roadmap to better align policies, programs, funding, data and partnerships across the state.

As we recognize National Nutrition Month and the vital role nutrition plays in overall health, we look forward to continuing this work alongside partners statewide to strengthen food security and build healthier communities.
​
Learn more and explore the strategic plan: https://nj.gov/foodsecurity/food-security/strategic-plan/

​​
​Food insecurity is a term used by the USDA to describe when people don't have enough food to eat and don't know where their next meal will come from. In the United States, over 44 million people, including 13 million children, experience food insecurity annually. 

Some methods for assessing food security include: 
​

• The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) method: Estimates calories available per capita at the national level
• Household income and expenditure surveys
• Individual's dietary intake
• Anthropometry
• The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS): A short questionnaire that captures households' behavioral and psychological manifestations of insecure food access

Food insecurity is measured at two levels of severity: 

• Low food security: Reductions in dietary quality and variety
• Very low food security: Reduced food intake and skipped meals

Some indicators of food insecurity include: 

• Food consumption score (access)
• Coping strategy index (access)
• Expenditures (access)
• Malnutrition (utilization)

Some tools for assessing food security include: 

• Food Systems Mapping
• The Urban Household Economy Approach (HEA)
• Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA)
• Intra-household Resource Allocation Assessment
• Food Utilization and Caregiving Practices Assessment
• Market Analysis

Some ways to reduce food insecurity include: 

• Giving more people benefits through nutrition assistance programs
• Increasing benefit amounts
• Addressing unemployment

​May 5, 2026
RWJBarnabas Health Celebrates Grand Opening of Harvest: Farm to Community Center in Newark

🌱 Farm-to-Community Center: Harvest

• In June 2025, RWJBarnabas launched Harvest, Newark’s first farm‑to‑community center in the historic Hahne’s Building in partnership with Urban Agriculture Cooperative. The center offers a 2,100 sq ft distribution hub, teaching kitchen, wellness offices, SNAP navigators, and an incubator for local food entrepreneurs—aimed at improving food access and health outcomes in Newark. [rwjbh.org], [rwjbh.org]

🛒 SNAP Navigator Program

• In early 2025, RWJBarnabas became the first healthcare provider in NJ to place SNAP navigators in each of its 12 acute care hospitals. These trained staff assist patients and community members with SNAP applications, recertification, and connect them to nutrition resources. [njbmagazine.com], [rwjbh.org]
• Awarded a $225,000 grant in mid‑2024 from the NJ Food Security Initiative to expand this program across its network. [njbiz.com], [ebs.publicnow.com]

💵 $1 Million in Funding to Local Food Organizations

• In November 2025, the system donated $1 million to support 14 food assistance organizations in response to SNAP interruptions. [rwjbh.org], [roi-nj.com]
• Recipient organizations include the Center for Food Action, Elijah’s Promise, Eva’s Village, MEND, Lunchbreak, Franklin Food Bank, Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, and more. [rwjbh.org], [roi-nj.com]

🎁 Holiday Food Drives 2025

• During the 2025 holiday season, RWJBarnabas distributed 37.6 tons of fresh produce and 4,175 turkeys statewide through partnerships with 22 community organizations and FQHCs across New Jersey (e.g., Newark, Long Branch, New Brunswick, Jersey City, West Orange, Elizabeth, Plainfield). [shorenewsnetwork.com], [rwjbh.org], [rlsmedia.com]
• The CEO joined council members and staff to lead distribution events in Newark, and the organization also donated turkeys, chickens, and hams via the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. [shorenewsnetwork.com], [rlsmedia.com]
• Since 2023, RWJBarnabas has invested nearly $20 million into food programs, with an additional $7 million slated for 2026. [shorenewsnetwork.com], [rwjbh.org]

👩‍🌾 Additional Ongoing Programs

• Beth Greenhouse & Farmers Market at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
• Sadie Vickers Community Garden (South Toms River)
• Food Farmacy programs and Common Market Farm‑to‑Pantry delivery
• Summer Feeding programs in NJ communities. [njbiz.com], [rwjbh.org]

These multifaceted efforts demonstrate RWJBarnabas Health’s deep investment in addressing food insecurity by combining direct food distribution, systemic funding, educational support, and SNAP access—a truly holistic approach to community nourishment.

Here are recent RWJBarnabas Health initiatives supporting local community food needs, with direct links for further details:

🌱 Harvest – Farm-to-Community Center in Newark
​A first-of-its-kind hub located in the historic Hahne’s Building, designed as a farm-to-community distribution center, teaching kitchen, SNAP navigator, wellness offices, and incubator for local food businesses. RWJBarnabas partnered with Urban Agriculture Cooperative to launch this initiative Learn more. [rwjbh.org]

🥫 SNAP Navigator Program
The first health system in New Jersey to place SNAP navigators in all 12 acute care hospitals, offering free, confidential assistance with SNAP eligibility, application, recertification, and access to nutrition resources 
Learn more. [rwjbh.org], [roi-nj.com]

💵 $1 Million Donation to Local Feeding Organizations
In November 2025, RWJBarnabas committed $1 million to support 14 community food organizations across New Jersey. This funding addressed gaps caused by interruptions in SNAP benefits and supported ongoing hunger relief    Read the announcement. [rwjbh.org], [roi-nj.com]

🎄 Holiday Food Drives – 2025
Across 22 community partners and FQHCs statewide, RWJBarnabas distributed over 37.6 tons of fresh produce and 4,175 turkeys during the holiday season to support families in need 
See details. [shorenewsnetwork.com]

🌿 Community Food Programs & Gardens
​RWJBarnabas operates additional ongoing efforts, such as Community Garden initiatives—like the Greenhouse & Farmers Market at Newark Beth Israel and the Sadie Vickers Community Garden—and Food Farmacy and Farm-to-Pantry programs that enhance local food access 
More info. [njbmagazine.com], [njbiz.com]

These efforts showcase RWJBarnabas Health's commitment to addressing food insecurity through infrastructure, education, strategic funding, and direct community engagement.

At a time when more New Jerseyans are struggling to put food on the table, RWJBarnabas Health, the largest, most comprehensive academic health system in New Jersey, is the first health care provider to expand efforts to reduce hunger by enhancing access to healthy food and health education for eligible residents through its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Navigators.

RWJBarnabas Health is proud to be the only health system in New Jersey to offer SNAP Navigator services at each of its acute care hospitals.
​
Click here to read more. 
Philanthropic commitments allow us to continue to provide opportunities to create healthier communities. Thank you for your past support!

Here are recent efforts by Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) to address food needs within its community:

🏥 Campus Food Pantries

• Each FDU campus in New Jersey hosts an on-campus food pantry offering free essentials—non-perishable food, hygiene products, clothing, and more.
  • Metropolitan Campus: Knights’ Market (990 Library Circle) is open weekdays 10 AM–4:30 PM. [fdu.edu]
  • Florham Campus: Devils’ Care Pantry operates weekdays at I‑Wing Offices, Twombly Residence Halls. [fdu.edu], [fdu.edu]

🎁 Annual Holiday Food Drives

• FDU's School of Public & Global Affairs, in partnership with Feeding America and the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, held its 7th Annual Holiday Food Drive in late 2025. Donations accepted through January 5, 2026—all proceeds benefit CFBNJ. Since 2019, these drives have raised over $60,000 and provided more than 180,000 meals. [fdu.edu], [fdu.edu]
  • 2024 drive: raised over $50,000 and collected more than 5,000 lbs of food. [fdu.edu]

🥫 GiveCampus Support Campaigns

• FDU's Knights’ Market (Metro) and Devils’ Care Pantry (Florham) have received funding through the GiveCampus “42 Hours of Giving” campaign.
  • Pantries were visited over 3,000 times last year; donations include both in-kind and financial gifts used to procure fresh produce, dairy, and protein items. [givecampus.com], [fdu1.thank…caring.org]

🏅 Athletics-Led Community Service

• FDU student-athletes won the 2025 NEC Building Communities Award, logging 6,939+ community service hours. Their efforts included supporting the Helping Hands Food Pantry in Teaneck through canned food drives and hands-on volunteering. [fdu.edu], [fduknights.com]

These efforts reflect FDU’s comprehensive approach—providing persistent, stigma-free access through campus pantries and leveraging partnerships, fundraising, and student engagement to address food insecurity and support local food organizations.

Here are the most recent and impactful efforts by Wakefern and Shop Rite to support food needs in New Jersey:

💰 $1.25 Million Pledged to Food Banks

• In early November 2025, Wakefern Food Corp. and Shop Rite announced a joint commitment of $1.25 million in food and funds to regional food banks.
• This aid aimed to support families affected by the federal government shutdown and SNAP uncertainty. Funds were allocated across multiple food banks in communities served by their supermarkets, including New Jersey. [newsroom.w…kefern.com], [snjtoday.com]

🛒 “Check‑Out Hunger” Holiday Campaign

• Starting November 24, 2025, Shop Rite stores launched their annual Check‑Out Hunger drive, inviting customers to donate at checkout through early January.
• Last year’s campaign raised approximately $500,000 in New Jersey. [northjersey.com], [newsroom.w…kefern.com]
• Proceeds benefit Feeding America-affiliated food banks, helping address heightened seasonal hunger. [northjersey.com], [progressiv…grocer.com]

🦃 Turkey Drive in Collaboration with Community FoodBank of New Jersey

• Shop Rite, in partnership with the Community FoodBank of NJ (CFBNJ), hosted the 25th Annual Turkey Drive on November 22, 2025, at multiple stores including Livingston.
• Shoppers donated frozen turkeys, pantry staples, and monetary gifts; CFBNJ also received in-store drop-offs. [newsroom.w…kefern.com], [progressiv…grocer.com]

📦 Ongoing Food Donations & Hunger-Fighting InitiativesAccording to Wakefern’s community impact report:

• Through Shop Rite Partners In Caring, they donate $3.5 million annually, benefiting over 2,500 charities. [www2.wakefern.com]
• They contribute $3.2 million worth of product, including over 5,000 tons of inventory and 10,000 tons of holiday turkeys each year. [www2.wakefern.com]
• Their partnerships include efforts like America’s Grow‑a‑Row in Pittstown, NJ, delivering fresh produce to those in need. [www2.wakefern.com]​

These combined efforts--large financial pledges, customer-engaged campaigns, and year-round charitable programs—reflect Wakefern and Shop Rite’s deep, sustained commitment to fighting food insecurity in New Jersey.

Articles

How grocers can tackle food accessibility challenges
Food Insecurity Remains Elevated After Pandemic-Era Benefits End
Hunger in AmericaIn the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, unemployment and food insecurity soared. In 2021, 53 million people turned to food banks and community programs for help putting food on the table. 
​
Food Insecurity and Poverty in the US - Feeding America   https://www.feedingamerica.org 

​Inflation could put more Canadians at risk of going hungry 
Food banks in Toronto and Calgary are seeing a surge in demand as food prices soar
​https://canadiangrocer.com/inflation-could-put-more-canadians-risk-going-hungry

Global FEED goods give millions of meals to children around the globe. 126,633,395 school meals given to date (and counting).  https://feedprojects.com/

Local News

​47 Bergen Food Pantries Will Split $500,000 Grant
Nonprofits dedicated to fighting hunger in Bergen County will split half a million dollars in federal grant money. Michelle Rotuno-Johnson, Patch Staff
Posted Wed, Mar 9, 2022 at 8:00 am ET

The money will help 47 organizations across Bergen county purchase supplies and update their infrastructure. These nonprofits include food pantries, food delivery, and meal distribution services.

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Nonprofits dedicated to fighting hunger in Bergen County will split half a million dollars in federal grant money, according to a news release from the county commissioners' office.

County commissioners unanimously approved $503,000 in grant funds last Tuesday. The money will help 47 organizations across the county purchase supplies and update their infrastructure. These nonprofits include food pantries, food delivery, and meal distribution services.

The county did not specify if the split was even, or if certain organizations would receive more than others. If the money is split evenly, that gives each charity about $10,702.
Last fall, the Bergen County Food Security Task Force set up the grant program with

American Rescue Act funds.

• 7th Day Adventist Church "El Faro"
  All access Community Development Corporation
• Annie Clyde Holt Food Pantry
• Bergen Family Center
• Bergenfield Food Pantry
• Borough of Fair Lawn/Health & Human Services
• Buddies of New Jersey Center for Food Action
• Christ Episcopal Church
• Church of the Ascension
• Church of the Holy Rosary
• CONNEX4NPO A NJ NONPROFIT CORPORATION
• Disabled Combat Veterans Youth Program
• Epiphany Community Food Pantry
• Evangel Christian Church
• Family Promise of Bergen County
• Father's Cupboard at Grace Redeemer Church
• Food & Assistance Board of Closter Food Pantry of Hasbrouck Heights
• Franciscan Community Development Center of Fairview
• Gurudwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Glen Rock
• Helping Hands Food Pantry of Teaneck NJ
• Jewish Family & Children's Services of Northern New Jersey (JFCS)
• Meadowlands YMCA
• Mount Olive Baptist Church
• Never Alone Again Resource Center
• Norwood Food Pantry
• Our Community Dinner Table
• Parkside Community Church
• Ponds Reformed Church
• Residents Assistance Program/The People's Pantry
• Ridgewood Senior Citizens Housing Corporation, Inc
• Ridgewood YMCA
• Rutherford Community Pantry Inc.
• Sacred Heart Church
• Social Service Association of Ridgewood and Vicinity
• St Matthew Church
• St. Andrew RC Church
• St. Anne's Food Pantry St.
• Francis de Sales Food Pantry
• St. Joseph Food Pantry
• Strangers Helping Strangers Food Pantry
• The Dumont Food Pantry - DCGCares
• The Food Brigade Inc.
• The Office of Concern Food Pantry
• Tri Boro Food Pantry
• Varick Memorial Food Pantry

​Feeding America is a United States–based nonprofit organization that is a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks that feed more than 46 million people through food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and other community-based agencies. Forbes ranks it as the second largest U.S. charity by revenue.

New Jersey​Grant from NJ Food Security Initiative will support navigators to assist with SNAP enrollment in all 12 system hospitals

Looking back, looking ahead

Thank you for being a part of the fight to end food waste and hunger in 2023! Here’s what we did together this year:

• We added food pantries in 276 cities, towns and villages, reaching even more gardeners who can now help nourish their neighbors in need. 
• 1.47 million gardeners learned they can donate surplus harvest from their gardens. Michelle in West Virginia and Lorri and Bob in California showed us how they did it and helped inspired many more gardeners!
• All 2,000 Home Depot stores had signs helping customers learn that they can donate garden food.
• Bonnie Plants is spearheading a major public awareness campaign.
• Our new program for reservations nationwide was presented at a Native American nutrition conference and a key Feeding America conference in Washington DC.
• Two new dedicated staff members have joined AmpleHarvest.org, bolstering our efforts to continually improve and expand our programs.

What will you help grow next year? We can’t wait to see what 2024 brings!

Webinar Recording Now Available
View our virtual panel discussion on how to repair a broken food system, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, provide nutrient dense produce to those in need, and strengthen the bond between neighbors and their communities. Panelists shared their insights and strategies for scaling up food recovery efforts and making a significant impact in the fight against hunger and food waste. 
Food banks are continuing to see large numbers of people needing food assistance. If you've planted a garden, think about growing more to feed more. If you can't grow a garden, share AmpleHarvest.org on social media, volunteer, or donate. Every act of kindness counts. 

Food for Thought 

​People with food insecurity deserve better nutrition education
Starting a vegetable garden benefits health, environment
Pamela Anderson's expert-approved vegetable planting technique is a masterclass in kitchen gardening
Include gardening in your New Year’s resolution

Finding the Good

A tiny house with a giant garden feeds many mouths in Minneapolis
These students are feeding hungry people while preventing food waste

The Need

Food pantries facing demand surge during the holiday season
Despite strong economic signs, food pantry lines are still growing in the Gulf South
Hungry for the holidays: Food insecurity spikes in America even as inflation rate slows​
​

Articles NY on food deserts:​Food Deserts in New York City – Food Deserts (food-deserts.com)

​Articles NJ on food deserts:​NJEDA AWARDS FIRST GRANT UNDER INNOVATIVE NEW PROGRAM TO STRENGTHEN FOOD SECURITY IN NEWARK
NJEDA announces $1M in grants toward addressing food deserts
NJEDA BOARD APPROVES FOOD DESERT RELIEF TAX CREDIT PROGRAM RULES, AUTHORIZES TAX CREDIT SALE
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT PILOT GRANT PROGRAM
FOOD SECURITY PLANNING GRANT PROGRAM  

Eligibility for this grant program is limited to Municipal government, County government and Redevelopment agencies whose jurisdiction includes all or part of a designated Food Desert Community. To be considered for this competitive planning grant, eligible entities are required to collaborate with their community stakeholders and develop an actionable plan that addresses the challenges around food access and food security. 

​NJEDA BOARD APPROVES CREATION OF THE FOOD SECURITY PLANNING GRANT PROGRAM

47 Bergen Food Pantries Will Split $500,000 Grant: Commissioners                         Nonprofits dedicated to fighting hunger in Bergen County will split half a million dollars in federal grant money.

NJ To Offer Up To $240 Million To Aid Food Security In ‘Deserts’  February 22, 2022
Newark to provide $2M in grants to fight food insecurity, food deserts
Bergen County Food Deserts: Fairview Makes The List
NJ Has 1.5 Million People Living In 'Food Deserts,' Officials Say
​NJEDA approves enhancements to Sustain & Serve program; to open Phase 3 funding
A Novel Pilot Brings Vertical Farms to Public Housing 10.21
​Jersey City is trying a new approach to bring healthier eating to low-income communities: on-site indoor farms. 

NJ CEO Council

March 9, 2022 - ITEM: Proposed Food Desert Communities under the Food Desert Relief Act
REQUEST: To approve the list, map, and methodology designating 50 New Jersey Food Desert
Communities, as required by the Food Desert Relief Act. This list will be used in full or in part to determine communities eligible for tax credits, grants, loans, and/or technical assistance under the Food Desert Relief Act and may be used in full or in part to determine eligibility for other future NJEDA food security programs.


New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s
listening sessions on the Food Desert Relief Act.

You can find recordings  of the two listening sessions at https://youtu.be/kyRd9uWj3VU for Jan. 12, and  https://youtu.be/vqAQKaVIjpI for Jan. 13.

Additional information on the Food Desert Relief Act can be found at Program Specific Feedback - NJEDA We are accepting written feedback on our proposed Food Desert Community designation list through February 4, 2022.

New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA)
For information about NJEDA’s products and services, please visit us on the web: www.njeda.com

On Tuesday 1/4/22, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) released a ranked list of 50 proposed food deserts across the state, where residents have been struggling to find healthy eating options. NEW JERSEY — Sometimes hunger hides in plain sight.

Thanks to supply chain woes caused by the coronavirus pandemic, many New Jersey residents have found themselves returning from trips to the grocery store without key items over the past year: vegetables, fruits and freshly prepared, healthy meals. But that’s just a small taste of what it’s like to live in a “food desert.”
​
On Tuesday, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) released a ranked list of 50 proposed food deserts across the state, where residents have been struggling to find healthy eating options long before the pandemic began 

The communities on the list are all facing a different combination of problems. Some lack enough healthy options at local supermarkets. Others are plagued by an oversaturation of fast food restaurants. And some simply don’t have any way for people without cars to get to the grocery store in the first place. But they all have something in common, advocates say.

Hopefully, a massive wave of state funding will help to turn things around, NJEDA officials said. Over the next several years, an estimated $240 million in funds will be made available to communities on the list through the Food Desert Relief Act, which is part of the Economic Recovery Act signed into law by Gov. Phil Murphy in January 2021.
​

​See the full list with ranking scores here. See an interactive online map with the proposed locations here.

1 - North, Central and South                        Camden/Woodlynne*
2 - Atlantic City/Ventnor
3 - Newark South
4 - Newark West
5 - Paterson South
6 - Camden East/Pennsauken
7 - Newark East
8 - Newark North and Central
9 - Passaic City
10 - Salem City*
11 - Paterson North
12 - Bridgeton/Fairfield Twp/Lawrence Twp*
13 - New Brunswick City
14 - Trenton City
15 - Elizabeth East
16 - Asbury Park City
17 - Jersey City South
18 - Penns Grove*/Carneys Point*
19 - Perth Amboy City
20 - Irvington Township
21 - Elizabeth West
22 - Union City
23 - Lindenwold/Clementon*
24 - Lakewood North
​25 - Pleasantville/Absecon​26 - Red Bank Borough
27 - East Orange City
28 - Orange/West Orange/Montclair
29 - North Bergen/West New York/Guttenberg
30 - Long Branch City
31 - Jersey City North
32 - Jersey City Central
33 - Woodbine Borough*
34 - Millville/Commercial Twp*
35 - Keansburg Borough*
36 - Prospect Park/Haledon/Hawthorne
37 - Paulsboro Borough
38 - Lakewood South
39 - Fairview Borough
40 - Linden/Roselle
41 - Egg Harbor City*
42 - Burlington City
43 - Vineland City
44 - Plainfield City
45 - Phillipsburg Town
46 - Bayonne City
47 - Dover Town
48 - Bound Brook Borough
49 - High Bridge Borough
50 - Montague Township*

Click here to Buy Bonnie Plants on Amazon

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Rockland County New YorkHere are a few opportunities as suggested by Volunteer New York!:
Flexible schedule
Volunteers to Clean Coolers
Meals on Wheels of Rockland
Nanuet

Flexible schedule
Food Pantry Coordinator
LIFE Progressive Services
Mount Vernon
For a list of all the ways to give back this holiday season, visit Volunteer New York's Holiday Volunteering website.

COMMUNITY TOWNS
 
​Central Rockland       
Bardonia, Congers, Nanuet, New City, Valley Cottage, West Nyack
 
Eastern Rockland       
Nyack, Piermont
 
Northern Rockland    
Garnerville, Haverstraw, Pomona, Stony Point, Thiells
 
Southern Rockland    
Blauvelt, Orangeburg, Pearl River
 
Spring Valley             
Spring Valley
 
Western Rockland     
Airmont, Monsey, Sloatsburg, Suffern, Tallman
 
Kosher Pantries         
Monsey, New Square, West Nyack

​

• Find Nearest by Zipcode
• Albany
• Clinton
• Columbia
• Delaware
• Dutchess
• Essex
• Franklin
• Fulton
• Greene
• Hamilton
• Montgomery
• Orange
• Otsego
• Putnam
• Rensselaer
• Rockland
• Saratoga
• Schoharie
• Schenectady
• Sullivan
• Ulster
• Warren
• Washington

​B.R.i.D.G.E.S
Beth Rapha’s Outreach Program
Capabilities Partnership Food Pantry
Catholic Community Services of Rockland
Center for Safety and Change
Christ Church of Ramapo Soup Kitchen
Crystal Run Village, Inc.
Fairmount Baptist Church Food Pantry
French Speaking Baptist Church Food Pantry
Haverstraw Parent Group Food Pantry
Hudson Valley Community Services
Iglesia La Mision Food Pantry
Immaculate Conception Care and Concern Ministry
Loeb House, Inc.
Macedonia Baptist Food Pantry
Mental Health Assocation of Rockland
MLK Multipurpose Center Afterschool Program
MLK Multipurpose Center Food Pantry
Mt. Zion Sanctuary Food Outreach Soup Kitchen
North Rockland Food Pantry @ Trinity UMC
Nyack F.O.O.D. Program Food Pantry
Nyack F.O.O.D. Program Soup Kitchen
Nyack Headstart
Nyack Parent Group Food Pantry
Open Arms
Open Bible Church Food Pantry
People to People Food Pantry
Pilgrim Baptist Church Food Pantry
Pilgrim Baptist Church Soup Kitchen
Redeeming Love Community Outreach
Rhoda Bloom Food Pantry
Rockland Community College Food Pantry
Rockland Interfaith Breakfast
Salvation Army – Spring Valley Canteen Feeding Program
Salvation Army – Spring Valley Food Pantry
Sinai French SDA Community Services Food Pantry
Sloatsburg Food Pantry
Spring Valley Headstart
Spring Valley Parent Group Food Pantry
Spring Valley SDA Church Food Pantry
St. Ann’s Food Cupboard
St. John Deliverance Tabernacle Inc. Food Pantry
St. Paul’s Community Dinner
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
St. Paul’s Parish Pantry
St. Peter’s Food Pantry
St. Stephen’s Food Cupboard
STLC Foundation, Inc.
Summit Children’s Residence
Tomche Shabbos of Rockland County
TOUCH
UMC of Spring Valley Community Breakfast
UMC of Spring Valley Food Pantry
Upper Room House of Worship Food Pantry
West Street Parent Group Food Pantry
Westcop CAP – Spring Valley Food Pantry
Westcop – Rockland Community Action Program

​Read More: Relief In The Works For 'Food Deserts,' Food Insecurity In NJ
Here’s how it will work, officials said:

“The Food Desert Relief Act directs the NJEDA to address the food security needs of communities across New Jersey by providing up to $40 million per year for six years in tax credits, loans, grants and/or technical assistance to increase access to nutritious foods and develop new approaches to alleviate food deserts. The act strives to facilitate development, construction, and sustainable operations of new supermarkets and grocery stores within designated Food Desert Communities. It also aims to strengthen existing community assets by arming them with the necessary equipment and infrastructure to provide healthier food options. Additionally, it is designed to help food retailers respond to the shift to e-commerce, including for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).

”There is an urgent need for relief, statistics show. According to recent data from the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, 800,000 New Jersey residents face hunger every day. Feeding America noted that 192,580 New Jersey children – about one in 10 – face hunger. And the number of individuals receiving NJ SNAP benefits (formerly known as food stamps) rose more than 15 percent, from 769,331 in September 2020 to 887,467 in September 2021, according to data from the New Jersey Department of Human Services.

“We have an obligation as state leaders, and as human beings, to ensure that no New Jerseyan goes to bed hungry, regardless of their socioeconomic status,” Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver said.

“By crafting one of the most comprehensive food desert designations in the country, we are leading the nation in taking necessary steps to eradicate food deserts and remove the barriers keeping our state’s residents from accessing nutritious food,” Oliver added.
​
“Far too often, hunger hides in plain sight,” Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin agreed, calling the NJEDA’s draft list an “important step” in the state’s battle against food insecurity.
See the proposed food deserts below, in ranked order (an asterisk * means that the whole municipality is included).

​
​Help for Hunger
Amazon is driven by the belief that no family should go without basic needs like food and housing. As millions of families struggle to secure food for their families, Amazon has a unique role to play providing a critical service for families in need. Through programs like Community Delivery and the Right Now Needs Funds, Amazon has long partnered with organizations that share our commitment.

ampleharvest.org | Defining_the_difference.pdf
Download File

Bonnie & AmpleHarvest.org
​
​Our Grow More Feed More initiative with AmpleHarvest.org encourages home gardeners to donate surplus produce to their nearest food pantry. The partnership was formed to help combat food insecurity caused by COVID-19, but the need for fresh, homegrown food among those without it continues to grow, and we’ll continue our commitment long after the pandemic is behind us. Both at the Bonnie Plants corporate office and at our growing stations around the country, we cultivate additional produce to help support local food pantries. Additionally, Bonnie Plants has already committed more than $250,000 to help fight hunger and we continue to donate 5 percent of all BonniePlants.com sales to AmpleHarvest.org.