Official Site of The State of New Jersey

Important benefits alert: The New Jersey Department of Human Services was notified by the federal government that if the shutdown continues, November 2025 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits may not be available on time. SNAP benefits loaded on your Families First EBT card prior to October 31, 2025 will be available for you to use after November 1, 2025. Before going to the grocery store after November 1, we encourage SNAP food assistance recipients to check their account at NJFamiliesFirst.com or by calling (800) 997-3333. If there are SNAP benefits in your NJ FamiliesFirst account, they are available for you to use. For updates, visit www.NJSNAP.gov or follow NJ Human Services on Facebook, X.com, and Instagram. 

Food pantries and soup kitchens are good options for anyone needing access to food quickly, this includes students and their family members. Eligibility for assistance differs depending on the local organization you are seeking support from. There are several organizations that only require you to be a New Jersey resident and others that welcome everyone, no questions asked.

• Depending on your location, the pantry may be walk-in
• May be by appointment.
• May ask you for some documentation like a photo ID, Social Security card and/or proof of residence
• May require a mask due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

To make your experience as easy as possible, we recommend the following steps:

1. Check out the links below to identify which pantries are located near you.
2. After locating your nearest pantry, check for their required documents, appointments, and hours.
3. If it's a pantry that requires an appointment, give them a call to set one up.
4. As needed, make sure you gather any necessary documents in advance of the day you're heading to the pantry. If you need a photo ID, you can visit your nearest NJ Motor Vehicle Commission and if you need to replace a Social Security card, visit this page from the U.S. Social Security Administration.

Statewide Search

• NJ 211 Food Pantry Search.
• Community FoodBank of New Jersey.

Atlantic County

• Food Banks in New Jersey's Heartland.
• Needhelppayingbills.com list of food pantries (Atlantic).

Bergen County

• Bergen County Food Security Task Force. Scroll down to "Find a Food Pantry" and type in your city, address or zip code. The options will pop up just underneath the search area.
• Center for Food Action's Appointment-Only Distribution. Once every three weeks, households living in northern Passaic County can make an appointment to receive a box of non-perishable food, along with fresh produce, meat, dairy, and bread, as available. Login or create an account to request a food appointment or call the number of your local distribution site.
• Needhelppayingbills.com list of food pantries (Bergen).

Burlington County

• Betsy & Peter Fischer Food Pantries. Kosher, non-perishable food and personal care items to food-insecure households. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, clients are currently receiving monthly, contactless grocery deliveries. Call 856-424-1333 or email faphelp@jfedsnj.org to schedule an intake appointment.
• Food Bank of South New Jersey.
• Needhelppayingbills.com list of food pantries (Burlington).

Camden County

• Betsy & Peter Fischer Food Pantries. Kosher, non-perishable food and personal care items to food-insecure households. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, clients are currently receiving monthly, contactless grocery deliveries. Call 856-424-1333 or email faphelp@jfedsnj.org to schedule an intake appointment.
• Food Bank of South New Jersey.
• Needhelppayingbills.com list of food pantries (Camden).

Cumberland County

• Food Banks in New Jersey's Heartland.

Essex County

• MEND Hunger Relief Network of Essex County, NJ.
• Needhelppayingbills.com list of food pantries (Essex).

Gloucester County

• Gloucester County Resource Directory.
• Betsy & Peter Fischer Food Pantries. Kosher, non-perishable food and personal care items to food-insecure households. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, clients are currently receiving monthly, contactless grocery deliveries. Call 856-424-1333 or email faphelp@jfedsnj.org to schedule an intake appointment.
• Food Bank of South New Jersey (Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Salem Counties)
• South Jersey Dream Center. Curbside pickup for groceries and baby items in West Deptford, Wednesdays from 12pm to 2:30pm - by appointment only. Fill in the form on the website to connect with the organization and get an appointment.
• Food Banks in New Jersey's Heartland.
• Needhelppayingbills.com list of food pantries (Gloucester).

Hudson County

• Needhelppayingbills.com list of food pantries (Hudson).

Hunterdon County

• Hunterdon County Food Pantries.
• Needhelppayingbills.com list of food pantries (Hunterdon).

Mercer County

• Trenton Area Free Food Resources.
• Needhelppayingbills.com list of food pantries (Mercer).

Middlesex County

• Middlesex County Programs.
• Needhelppayingbills.com list of food pantries (Middlesex).

Monmouth County

• Fulfill NJ. They also offer child food programs and SNAP enrollment assistance.
• Lunch Break. Community kitchen provides on-site breakfast and lunch Monday through Saturday as well as dinner on Friday evening. They also have a client choice food pantry six days a week. Check the calendar for hours. Located at 121 Drs. James Parker Boulevard in Red Bank, NJ.
• Needhelppayingbills.com list of food pantries (Monmouth).

Morris County

• Emergency Food Resources for SNAP Recipients. As a result of the federal government shut down impacting SNAP benefits, several charitable food providers, in partnership with the Morris County Department of Human Services are providing temporary, emergency measures to help individuals and families impacted by the pause on benefits.
• Interfaith Food Pantry Network. Serves all of Morris County and families of four typically can receive approximately $300 worth of groceries for a month. Food distribution sites are located in Morristown and Morris Plains. See the schedule on their website or call 973-538-8049 (ext. 210) for more information and assistance.
• Nourish NJ. Distributes food in two locations. At Morristown, on 36 Sussex Avenue, meals are distributions Mon through Fri from 9am to 1pm and on Sat and Sun from 11am to 1pm. At Victory Gardens site, located at 347 South Salem Street, meals are distributed Mon through Fri from 7am to 4pm. For help, visit one of the locations or call 862-379-0030 to speak with a case worker.
• Table of Hope. Offers free hot dinners in their community kitchen at Bethel Church every Mon through Fri from 5:30 to 7pm, meals are also available to-go. The mobile food pantry distributes food weekly in Morristown and Parsippany. To sign up for food distribution and see the schedule, visit the website or call 973-998-9330.
• Morris County Food Pantries and Meal Services. Find a full list of food services and contact information on this page.

Ocean County

• Fulfill NJ. They also offer child food programs and SNAP enrollment assistance.
• Plentiful Plates of Ocean County NJ. Call (201) 394-9175, email toniski158@gmail.com, or WhatsApp message off of the Facebook page for more information.
• Needhelppayingbills.com list of food pantries (Ocean).

Passaic County

• [Note: Upper Passaic] Center for Food Action's Appointment-Only Distribution. Once every three weeks, households living in northern Passaic County can make an appointment to receive a box of non-perishable food, along with fresh produce, meat, dairy, and bread, as available. Login or create an account to request a food appointment or call the number of your local distribution site.
• Eva's Village - Community Kitchen. Serves breakfast at 8:30am Monday through Friday, lunch at 12pm and 1pm Monday through Friday, and one lunch at 12pm on Saturday and Sunday.
• Needhelppayingbills.com list of food pantries (Passaic).

Salem County

• Food Bank of South New Jersey.

Somerset County

• Somerset County Food Banks/Pantries/Soup Kitchens for Residents.
• Needhelppayingbills.com list of food pantries (Somerset).

Union County

• Needhelppayingbills.com list of food pantries (Union).

Warren County

• Washington Community Food Pantry. Call 908-689-2547 to make sure you are eligible. Located at First Presbyterian Church of Washington at 40 East Church Street, Washington NJ. Hours are Tuesday-Friday and every 3rd Saturday from 9:15am - 11am. (Closed on holidays.)