Coronavirus Increases Hunger: Find A Food Bank In Sussex County
SUSSEX COUNTY, NJ — When you look around Sussex County, it's easy to see the effects the coronavirus has had on our way of life. What's less visible is the number of people who are now worrying about having enough to eat.
Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger relief organization, says coronavirus-related economic crises could push the number of food insecure Americans to 54 million by year's end. That's 17 million more Americans than who were food insecure before the pandemic. For some, it’s a matter of running short on grocery money before the week is out and eating a lot of boxed pasta and rice dishes.
For others, food insecurity means real hunger.
In Sussex County, about 6.4 percent, were considered food insecure before the pandemic, according to Feeding America’s “Map the Meal Gap” interactive study.
Job loss and other economic crises associated with the coronavirus could push the rate of food insecurity in Sussex County to 11.4 percent by the end of the year. A 78.4 percent jump.
Feeding America, whose 200 member food banks include Fulfill, the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, which is headquartered in Neptune, reports both higher demand for services and more need for volunteer and donor support.
Some of the food pantries and other services available in Sussex County are:
Salvation Army Food Pantry
Food bank
Franklin, NJ
(973) 209-7549
Harvest House
Social services organization
Sussex, NJ
(973) 875-6445
Bea's Kitchen & Food Pantry
Association or organization
Sussex, NJ
(973) 875-0919
SCARC
Food bank
Newton, NJ
(973) 383-0122
First Baptist Church
Baptist church
Newton, NJ
(973) 383-9757
Scarc Inc
Non-profit organization
Augusta, NJ
(973) 383-7442
Manna House
Social services organization
Newton, NJ
(973) 579-6517
Project Self-Sufficiency
Charity
Newton, NJ
(973) 940-3500
Partnership For Social Services
Social services organization
Franklin, NJ
(973) 827-4702
Food Distribution Center - MUMC New Hope Food Pantry
Food bank
Oak Ridge, NJ
(973) 697-0632
West Side United Methodist Church
Hopatcong, NJ
(973) 398-0846
Sussex Help Center Food Pantry
Food bank
Sussex, NJ
(973) 702-1922
RELATED: Millions Made Hungry During Pandemic Could Include Your Neighbor
Food insecurity is often thought of as a "poor people's problem," but not all people living in poverty are food insecure, and not all food-insecure people live in poverty. Food insecurity is a complex issue sandwiched in with other systemic challenges, including poverty, low wages, affordable housing shortages, chronic and acute health problems, high medical costs and social isolation.
"Our members are reporting that many of the people they’re serving have never sought food assistance before," Kathryn Strickland, Feeding America’s chief network officer, told Patch. "Some people are reporting that people who formerly donated to food banks are now seeking assistance."
Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 54 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.
This article originally appeared on the Hopatcong-Sparta Patch