North Jersey food pantries need 'help badly' for holidays. Here's how you can help

The pandemic increased food insecurity among families with children and communities of color, who already faced a higher rate of hunger even before COVID. High inflation and a possible recession have exacerbated the situation.

There are more than 34 million people, 9 million of them children, in the United States considered food insecure, according to the USDA. Even though every community in New Jersey and the rest of the country has families that are facing hunger, rural communities are hit harder, along with African American, Latino and Native American communities, statistics show. Many of these families and individuals don't qualify for federal or state programs, so they turn to their local food banks and other food programs for help.

In North Jersey, there are a number of charities and food programs collecting groceries and other goods to give out to families in need for the holidays.

Here is a list of food banks in need of your help:

Community FoodBank of New Jersey, Hillside

"With food as expensive as it is, it's more difficult for us to purchase food so we need donations," said communications and public relations spokesperson Nicole Williams.

The Community FoodBank of New Jersey is a warehouse that works as a distributing center for more than 800 food pantries and food banks. Its Turkey Drive will take place on Nov. 19 and Nov. 20 where it will be accepting numerous donations.

The food bank will accept frozen turkeys, chickens, non-perishable items such as cranberry sauce, canned vegetables, macaroni and cheese, boxed stuffing and packets of gravy. Donations can be dropped off at 31 Evans Terminal Road #1 in Hillside. Distributions will be given out right before Thanksgiving. "The generosity is really needed," said Williams. To find the turkey drive closest to you visit the group's website at https://cfbnj.org/turkey/.

If you can’t join in person, please consider an online donation to our Virtual Turkey Drive at https://give.cfbnj.org/campaign/turkey-drive-2022/c436857.

Last year’s Turkey Drive collected more than 35,000 pounds of food and more than 4,400 turkeys. For a list of most wanted items, visit the website at https://cfbnj.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/CFBNJ-Turkey-Drive-Most-Needed-Foods.pdf.

Interfaith Food Pantry, Morris Plains

Interfaith Food Pantry's Thanksgiving Basket Program is up and running. The group is collecting turkeys, ham and chicken donations. In addition, it is in need of nonperishable items such as instant mashed potatoes, yams, canned vegetables, turkey gravy in non-glass containers and much more.

All donations can be dropped off at 2 Executive Drive, Morris Plains, from Monday to Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Friday by appointment only. Night-time drop-offs are also offered. Interfaith Food Pantry will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and the day after. For more information and directions, call 973-538-8049, or e-mail: interfaithfoodpantry@mcifp.org

Project Self Sufficiency, Newton

Project Self Sufficiency will be serving 500 full Thanksgiving baskets this holiday season. In prior years, it has given out every one of the 500 baskets collected and intends to do so this year as well. Although the group is are always open to donations, it is accepting perishable items on Nov. 21 at 127 Mill Street, Newton.

Normally, the program only accepts non-perishable donations, such as canned and boxed goods, at other times of the year.

This food pantry serves up to 60 families a day. It is also also accepting online Thanksgiving donations at https://www.projectselfsufficiency.org/thanksgiving, where you can also sign up to volunteer.

To inquire about services, call 973-940-3500.

Human Needs Food Pantry, Montclair

In past years, the pantry has given away over 1,000 turkeys for Thanksgiving. This year, the pantry anticipates giving away even more, as the need is higher.

Human Needs Food Pantry is looking for donations including turkeys, gravy mix not in a glass jar, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, pie ingredients, cake ingredients, instant mashed potatoes, green beans, corn muffin mix and pumpkin.

It will start accepting donations the week of Nov. 14 and distributions will take place at 9 Label St. on Nov. 20, 21, and 22. Times have not yet been confirmed. Human Needs also accepts online donations at https://www.humanneedsfoodpantry.org/donate and has volunteer opportunities during the holiday season.

Father English Food Pantry, Paterson

This Paterson food pantry is in dire need of donations for every day and for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.

"We need help badly," said Program Director Carlos Roldan.

Father English Food Pantry feeds between 22,000 to 23,000 individuals every month and gives 1,000 bags of groceries to those in need on a daily basis. In prior years, collecting 10,000 donated turkeys wasn't a hassle, but currently, the pantry is struggling, Roldan said.

Roldan said he's worried the food pantry won't have enough turkeys to give to families, as many vendors haven't gotten back to him while others said that due to the pandemic they stopped delivering turkeys. Roldan said his group needs turkeys, chickens, gravy, corn, stuffing and potatoes. Donations will be accepted until 2 p.m. the day before Thanksgiving and will be distributed that same day. If left over, they will also be distributed on Thanksgiving Day before 2 p.m.

In Passaic County bring donations to 435 Main St., 973-279-7100 ext. 2018. In Morris County go to Hope House Food Pantry at 101-103 Bassett Highway, Dover or call 973-361-5555 and in Sussex County go to Partnership for Social Services Food Pantry (& Thrift Store) at 48 Wyker Road, Franklin or call 973-279-7100 ext. 2018.

Financial donations may be made online at https://ccpaterson.org/food.

Get help

Need help? Besides the food pantries, NJ 211 provides live assistance 24 hours a day, every day of the year. The services are free, confidential and multilingual. Reach them by dialing 2-1-1; via text by sending your ZIP code to 898-211; email them at info@nj211.org; or chat with them online at https://m2.icarol.com/ConsumerRegistration.aspx?org=83449&pid=161&cc=en-US.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: 'We need help badly': Here's how you can help food pantries in need