Helping hunger is noble. it’s necessary. It even shakes. Jon Bon Jovi has Pay What You Can restaurants in Red Bank and Tom’s River. Bruce Springsteen was spotted bagging groceries for a community food bank in New Jersey.
“Springsteen has been a great supporter and an important advocate,” said Carlos Rodriguez, president and CEO of the 45-year-old Community Food Bank. “He’s been a champion for years, for sure.”
Local food banks, food pantries and soup kitchens are currently overwhelmed. In times of fear and financial stress, they can come to your aid.
Lots of people need non-perishable canned goods, cereals, craft macaroni & cheese, and more. Some need a driver. Some even bring their cars to their homes. Some, but not all, are looking for volunteers to help sort, pack, and distribute food. All need money.
The following organizations are examples. There are hundreds. Your town, church, or civic group is probably trying to help hunger. It’s the holiday season. Compassion makes a great gift.
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And if you yourself are in trouble, look for them. That’s what they are for. Most of the time there are intermittent times. One night a week, twice a month in the morning. Call or visit our website for the latest information.
Asking for help is difficult. Most of us are conditioned to see it as a weakness. it’s not. Especially now when the situation is so difficult.
So don’t be shy. Ask and you will receive. No shame, no guilt. today is you It could be any of us tomorrow.
“The stigma of shame should be removed,” said Marie Alonso of the Food Bank of South Jersey. “It’s time for us all to grow up. This is not your fault.”
food pantry in new jersey
Hackensack Seventh-day Adventist Church. 106 Euclid Avenue, Hackensack. 201-489-6390 or hackensacknj.adventistchurch.org
Christ Episcopal Church associated with Tri-Arc Community Development Corp., 480 Warwick Ave., Teaneck. 201-833-4502 or christchurchteaneck.org
Center for Food Action, 192 W. Demarest Ave, Inglewood. 201-569-1804, ext. 25. Also, 316 1st St., Hackensack. 201-883-9375 or cfanj.org
Hasbrouck Heights Food Pantry, 320 Boulevard, Hasbrouck Heights. 201-288-0195
CUMAC, 223 Ellison Street, Paterson. 973-742-5518 or cmac.org
Human Needs Food Pantry, 9 Label St., Montclair. 973-746-4669 or humanneedsfoodpantry.org
St. Mary’s Food Pantry, 22 Lakeside Avenue (behind the building), Pompton Lakes. 973-831-4442 or stmarys-pompton.org
nourishnj (formerly Community Soup Kitchen and Outreach Center), 36 Sussex Ave., Morristown. 973-267-0709 or nourishnj.org
St. John’s Soup Kitchen, 22 Mulberry St., Newark. 973-623-0822 or njsk.org
House of Love Soup Kitchen/Pantry, Church of God & Saints of Christ, 589-95 Central Ave., Newark. 973-204-7713 or houseoflovesoupkitchen.org
Church Women United Food Pantry, 1240 Clinton Ave., Irvington. 973-373-5930.
Community FoodBank of New Jersey, 31 Evans Terminal, Hillside. 908-355-3663; 6735 Black Horse Pike, Egg Harbor Township. 609-383-8843 or cfbnj.org
Interfaith Food Pantry, 2 Executive Drive, Morris Plains. 973-538-8049 or mcifp.org
Rahway Food for Friends, 1221 New Brunswick Ave., Rahway. 732-381-7201 or rahwayfoodforfriendsnj.org
Hands Of Hope Food Pantry, St. James Episcopal Church, 2136 Woodbridge Ave., Edison. 732-236-3330 or handsofhopenj.org
Elijah’s Promise Soup Kitchen, 18 Neilson St, New Brunswick. 732-545-9002 or elijahspromise.org
Somerset County Food Bank Network, 9 Easy St., Bound Brook. 732-560-1813 or somersetfoodbank.org
Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK), 72½ Escher Street, Trenton. 609-695-5456 or trentonsoupkitchen.org
Flemington Area Food Pantry, 154 Route 31 (in front of Walmart parking lot), Flemington. 908-788-5568 or flemingtonfoodpantry.org
JBJ Soul Kitchen (Jon Bon Jovi’s restaurant serving customers who need to pay), 207 Monmouth St., Red Bank (732-842-0900). 1769 Hoover Avenue, Toms River (732-731-1414); Robeson Campus Center, 350 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd., Newark (closed) jbjsoulkitchen.org
Lunch break, Dr. 121. James Parker Blvd., Red Bank. 732-747-8577 or lunchbreak.org
Bradley Food Pantry, 605 4th Avenue, Bradley Beach. 732-775-0161 or bradleyfoodpantry.org
Fulfill (Monmouth and Ocean County Food Bank), 3300 Route 66, Neptune; BEAT Center, 1769 Hooper Avenue, Toms River. 732-918-2600 or fulfillnj.org
Food Bank of South Jersey, 1501 John Tipton Blvd., Pennsauken Township. 856-662-4884 or foodbanksj.org
Cathedral Kitchen, 1514 Federal Street, Camden. 856-964-6771 or Cathedralkitchen.org
TOUCH New Jersey Food Pantry, 549 State St, Camden. 856-803-3030 or touchnewjersey.org
New York
Ecumenical Food Pantry, 2 Fisher Ct., White Plains, NY. 914-428-5770
Community action programs, food distribution centers, food pantries. 70 Ferris Avenue, White Plains, New York. 914-428-7030 or westcop.org
Yonkers Hungry People Food Pantry & Soup Kitchen, 98 Waverly St., Yonkers, NY. 914-376-9784
Stepping Up Yonkers-Angel Food Pantry, 77 Walsh Road, Yonkers, NY. 914-375-2151
Yonkers Cap Food Pantry, Ashburton 164. Avenue 914-423-5905
Feeding Westchester, 200 Clearbrook Road, Elmsford, NY. 914-923-1100 or feedwestchester.org
Pick up at designated times at the Ossining Food Pantry, Trinity Church (7 S. HIghland Ave.) and HORAC (81 Croton Ave.) pickup locations. 914-762-5510 or ossiningfoodpantry.org
Mount Kisco Interface Food Pantry, 300 Main Street, Mount Kisco, NY. 914-610-5187 or mountkiscofoodpantry.org
Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown Community Food Pantry, 43 S. Broadway, Tarrytown, NY. 914-332-0182 or communityfoodpantryshtt.org
Community Food Pantry at St. Mary’s Mohegan Lake, 1836 E. Main Street, Mohegan Lake, New York. 914-528-3972 or cfpstmarysmoheganlake.com
Holy Spirit Food Pantry, 969 Crompond Road, Cortlandt, NY. 914-737-2111.
Jim Beckerman is entertainment and culture reporter for NorthJersey.com. Subscribe now or activate your digital account for unlimited access to his insightful reports on how you spend your leisure time.
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