Lindsay Norman, Director of Special Projects and Initiatives for the Jewish Community Center of Middlesex County, has been bringing volunteer groups to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey for over a decade. She helps individuals find hands-on volunteer opportunities and encourages them to get involved in their communities. On one particular day, she brought 25 of her colleagues to the FoodBank for a staff volunteer day. Together, they sorted and packed pasta for distribution to neighbors in need across New Jersey.  “We wanted to get together and do something fun and meaningful,” Lindsay ..read more

Dawn and Rich have been volunteering at the Community FoodBank of New Jersey for over 21 years and don’t plan on stopping any time soon! The couple began their volunteering journey at the FoodBank packing boxes in the warehouse and sorting pasta in the clean room once a month.  “We found it extremely rewarding because there’s nothing more important, we feel, than to help feed people,” Rich shared. Today, they are valued members of the “kitchen crew” and volunteer once a week assisting CFBNJ culinary staff and Food Service Training Academy (FSTA) students in making meals for neighbors in n ..read more

INGREDIENTS For the peaches 4 cups of fresh peaches Baking soda (see directions) ½ cup butter  ½ cup sugar For the batter 1 cup flour 1 cup sugar 2 teaspoons baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt 1 cub milk   DIRECTIONS Soak whole peaches in water for 15 minutes, adding 1 teaspoon of baking soda for every 2 cups of cold water. After 15 minutes, take the peaches out and pat them dry. Peel and slice the peaches into 6-8 slices each. Preheat oven to 350 F. Place sliced butter in a 9×13 baking dish and place in the oven while it’s preheating. Take the pan out once the butter is melted. &nbs ..read more

In June 2024, New Jersey will launch Summer EBT, a  child nutrition program intended to reduce hunger and food insecurity for children during the summer when school is not in session.  Most families will get these benefits automatically, but some parents will need to apply. The new program is in addition to free meals that kids of all ages can get at summer meal sites in their communities. Benefits of Summer EBT Helps parents and caregivers buy healthy foods for their children.  Gives families the flexibility to select foods that fit their culture and lifestyle.  Improves ..read more

The Network Investment Grant Initiative is a multi-year effort by CFBNJ to increase the capacity of local food assistance organizations, especially those in underserved communities, including food pantries, child and senior feeding programs, and more. This latest round of grants, which were disbursed in January 2024, totals over $3.2 million to help 80 individual organizations better serve food insecure New Jerseyans. Funds are supporting transformative projects that significantly impact food insecurity, nutritional intake, or operational sustainability, as well as small-scale projects meant t ..read more

State’s largest food bank acknowledges outpouring of need and support, sets sights on increasing food access HILLSIDE, NJ – January 11, 2024 The Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ), the state’s largest food bank, announced today that it recently surpassed the one billion meal mark for meals distributed to neighbors in need across its 15-county service area. For 49 years, CFBNJ has provided food, help, and hope, building and supporting a network of more than 800 local food assistance organizations, including food pantries, soup kitchens, child and senior nutrition programs, and more. Recen ..read more

Fednel graduated from CFBNJ’s brand new Warehouse Logistics Training Academy (WLTA) earlier this year as class valedictorian. After eight weeks learning about inventory management, compliance, purchasing, and more, he got a full-time job in our warehouse.   “I got more experience and knowledge of the warehouse in the program,” he said. “I learned leadership, innovation, and problem solving that I use now as an employee.”   A lifelong resident of Irvington – right around the corner from CFBNJ’s Hillside warehouse – Fednel has seen food insecurity firsthand.   “Ther ..read more

Carlos is a Paterson native who learned responsibility, alertness, and above all, positivity during his stay at the Eva’s Village men’s shelter.  He was homeless for two years after losing his job and becoming permanently disabled in a car accident.  “I was just trying to survive,” he said.   Carlos worked for fifteen years in the laboratory for a company that makes vitamins, moving the materials around the lab and operating the machines. The job was physically demanding but well-paying. After the company moved, Carlos was laid off, began to struggle with mental health issu ..read more

Though operating out of a small building, the Franklin Food Bank has made a big impact on the community as a partner of CFBNJ for over two decades. This pantry/food bank hybrid, led by Executive Director Derek Smith, provides food for over 25,000 visits annually through three main food assistance programs: a monthly drive-thru community distribution of produce and other items in partnership with the local police department, the YMCA, and CFBNJ; a Beyond Borders program, where the Franklin Food Bank serves other non-profit agencies; and Client Choice – a fully stocked choice pantry where neighb ..read more

According to a report released last week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the number of people living in food insecure households increased by 10 million in 2022 to 44 million people. This marks the largest one-year increase in food insecurity since 2008. With this alarming news, it’s clearer than ever that food insecurity should be treated as an urgent crisis, despite lower unemployment and a reportedly improved economy. The end of pandemic-related federal safety nets and the high cost of food have stretched our neighbors’ budgets to the breaking point. Across the Garden State, we’ve se ..read more