If you’re hungry and in need of a meal, here are 10 top food banks in Bergen County, NJ.
1. Center for Food Action
If you are in Hackensack, Mahwah, Ringwood, or Saddle Brook, New Jersey, and need food assistance, the Center for Food Action in Englewood may be the answer to your troubles. This food bank was started in 1976 by Harry Chapin and Bill Ayres to help the less fortunate in the surrounding communities. They offer emergency food items including non-perishables and dry goods on an appointment-only basis.
If you’d like to help further their cause, you can donate funds, give food or volunteer your time. Check out their website or get in touch with them to see what you can do to assist with their efforts to reduce hunger.
2. The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army in Passaic, New Jersey offers hot meals in their soup kitchen and more substantial food assistance in the way of canned, frozen, and fresh foods from their food pantry. They also offer delivery services to the homebound who may be unable to reach them. They have been lending a hand up to citizens in Albion Place, Allwood, Clifton, Garfield, Passaic, and Wallington since 1880.
Donate or volunteer if you’re able. Questions can be directed to the member of staff listed under contact information on their home page.
3. Helping Hands Food Pantry
Looking for food in Teaneck, New Jersey? The Helping Hands Food Pantry can provide you with supplemental pantry items to help stretch your food budget a bit further. Started in 2008 by Elie Y. Katz of the Teaneck Church of God, this food bank is run by a group of church members and volunteers dedicated to addressing food insecurity in their area. While they only serve those located in Teaneck, they will help any resident of Bergen County locate a pantry that can assist them.
Find out how to donate or volunteer on their website. Get in contact with them for all additional questions or to request their services.
4. The Faith, Hope and Love Food Pantry
Christ Episcopal Church has been a part of the Teaneck, New Jersey community since 1953. Members of the congregation and volunteers work together to collect and distribute non-perishable food to members of their community in need through their food pantry. They open their doors one Saturday each month to hand out allotments of food based on family size. Selection is dependent upon collections taken in from community members and businesses.
Anyone able to do so is encouraged to donate or volunteer. Get in touch with them for any additional information.
5. Epiphany Community Food Pantry
If you’re in Fort Lee, New Jersey, and looking for supplemental non-perishables for your cabinet, The Epiphany Community Food Pantry in Cliffside is ready to help. They open their doors every Friday to hand out food from the back of their rectory to those in need.
The pantry is not funded by any government sources. They rely on the generosity of members of their community and local businesses. In addition to the weekly distributions, they hold several special events during the year where they provide hot meals and friendship.
All donations and volunteers should contact the church to see what they can do to help.
6. Buddies of New Jersey
Buddies of New Jersey is focused on helping those affected by AIDS in the Hackensack, New Jersey, area who may need food items. Food is available by appointment only. Those experiencing food insecurity are asked to call in advance. Recipients will be given a date and time to come by for their items. A bag containing dry goods, canned food, and household items will be handed to them outside the doors during their scheduled appointment.
Donations and volunteers for the center can contact them via their website.
7. St. Peter’s Haven
St. Peter’s Haven in Clifton, New Jersey, was founded in 1986 as an outreach of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church dedicated to feeding the hungry and impoverished. This food bank is there to help anyone experiencing food insecurity. They are open three days each week to provide a boost to your food supply. Families and individuals in need can visit once a month for a 4 day supply of nutritious foods including non-perishables and fresh foods.
If you are interested in donating or volunteering your time, you can get in touch with the pantry staff.
8. CUMAC
When Hugh Dunlop saw that some of his students lacked focus due to lacking proper nutrition at home, he decided to do something about it. In the 1970s, with the help of members of his church, he began a small food drive that grew to embrace others in the community. By 1985, the United Methodist Aid to the Community, or CUMAC, was born. This food bank provides nutritious foods every month as well as working with patrons to secure SNAP benefits.
Their website includes links to donate or volunteer, as well as contact information for those who need to discuss their situation or offer a lending hand.
9. Social Service Association
In need of food in the Ridgewood, New Jersey, area? Head over to the Social Service Association’s (SSA) self-service food pantry. SSA has been helping those in their surrounding communities with a host of services for over a hundred years. This food bank can provide you with both non-perishables, frozen foods, and fresh produce.
Those looking to help can donate or volunteer to assist with food donations and distribution. Get in contact with a member of staff for any other questions or discuss how you can contribute.
10. The Food Bank, Inc.
If you are in Paramus, New Jersey, and experiencing hunger, you can turn to The Food Bank, Inc. for help. This organization was founded in 2020 by the DeMarco family who had been providing food to the community on a smaller scale for more than three decades. Their food bank now helps thousands of people by distributing fresh and non-perishable foods to both families and individuals. They also deliver prepared meals to the homebound and homeless.
To join their fight against hunger, you can donate or volunteer. You’ll find their contact information on their website if you want to know more about all they do.
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