November 20, 2018
Giving Tuesday is right around the corner. This annual day of charity is a way to not only kick off the holiday season, but also share with loved ones the causes or communities that matter most to you. With a gift through the Community Foundation of New Jersey, you have a story to share around the table – one of effective giving and local impact.
This year, we are focusing on food security. Did you know 1 in 7 New Jersey kids will miss a meal today? Or that 298,000 New Jersey residents have limited access to a grocery store? Or that Salem County does not have a single grocery store? Or that 15,000 veterans in New Jersey rely on federal assistance to put food on the table?
Fortunately, there are several ways to help. By making a gift to any of the programs below, you will ensure that – no matter how else you give next week – New Jersey’s most food-insecure communities will have determined philanthropic champions at their back.
Double Up Food Bucks
The Community Foundation is partnering with the national nonprofit Fair Food Network to bring its Double Up Food Bucks healthy food incentive program to New Jersey.
In 25 other states already, Double Up Food Bucks matches the value of NJ SNAP dollars spent on fresh fruits and vegetables, helping low-income families bring home more nutritious foods. SNAP stands for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program formerly known as food stamps.
With your help, we can continue this program at grocery stores in Newark, East Orange, Kearny, and Hillside.
Donate with your credit card.
Donate with your fund.
NJ’s Food Pantries
Earlier this month, the entire Community Foundation staff spent a day volunteering at the Interfaith Food Pantry. Each week, the Pantry distributes more than 15,000 pounds of food to 325 families, primarily senior citizens living on fixed incomes and low-income working families.
To support the Interfaith Food Pantry (Morris County), you may give with your credit card or give with your fund.
To support the Interfaith Food Pantry of the Oranges (Essex County), you may give with your credit card or give with your fund.
More Opportunities
For better or worse, there are numerous food security organizations serving New Jersey residents. Consider supporting these critical nonprofits:
The Community Food Bank of New Jersey (link) uses every dollar donated to provide three meals for hungry families.
The Food Bank of South Jersey (link) connects 12 million pounds of food with more than 150 charitable food providers every year.
Table to Table (link) is a community based food rescue program that collects prepared and perishable food that would otherwise be wasted and delivers it to organizations that serve the hungry in Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Passaic counties.
Lunch Break (link) provides food, clothing, life skills and fellowship to those in need in Monmouth County and beyond.
Move for Hunger (link) is a past honoree of CFNJ that coordinates the pick-up of unwanted, non-perishable food items from those who are moving out of a home and delivers it to local food banks. Founded in Red Bank, the nonprofit now works in all 50 states and Canada.
The Community Foundation’s School Breakfast Fund (link for credit card, link for fund) supports the Food for Thought: School Breakfast Campaign. This program, led by Advocates for Children of New Jersey, ensures more students from low-income communities receive breakfast after the school bell rings, not before – which significantly boosts participation.