Where and How to Get Food Assistance in the Tri-State Region

Supplemental Federal Pandemic Emergency Assistance, which provided additional assistance of at least $95 per month to cover food costs for households receiving the Supplemental Food Assistance Program (SNAP), ends on Wednesday, March 1, after almost three years.

The aid was aimed at reducing food insecurity during the pandemic. Without this help, families in states like New York will suffer because they will receive less SNAP money.

However, various organizations are working in partnership with state and local governments, food banks and others to provide emergency food to families most in need.

Below you will find some of the food programs you can take advantage of in each state.

(This article was first published on Telemundo47.com. Additional updates and extended information will follow as they are made available by officials and organizations.)

NEW YORK

Below is information about food resources available to New Yorkers and community organizations that provide basic food.

YOU CAN ENTER YOUR ZIP CODE HERE to find the closest distribution center to your area.

If you are able to leave your place of residence and need groceries, the following links will take you to distribution centers that can help you in your area. You just need to enter your zip code.

In addition, the Hunter College Food Policy Center has developed 59 distribution center guidelines that are updated every 3-5 days thanks to more than 25 volunteers. Visit nycfoodpolicy.org/food to find free eateries in all five boroughs and beyond in the Capital Region. Click here for more information.

FOOD DELIVERY

NYC Food Delivery Assistance offers home delivery to vulnerable New Yorkers in need, including seniors at home, people with disabilities, chronically ill people at increased risk of contracting the virus, and those who have lost income due to the crisis in the field of healthcare.

Eligible households can place orders every 48 hours. Orders cannot be placed between 11:00 and 17:00 on Friday and 11:00 on Saturday, and there is no delivery on Sundays.

Orders placed before 11:00 am will be delivered within two days of ordering. Orders placed after 11:00 am will be delivered within three days of ordering.

Each order will contain meals for two days (4 meals per person per family, but no family will receive more than 8 meals per delivery).

You can call 311 to request service in Spanish or get a referral to organizations that can help you in your area. Due to the volume of calls from needy New Yorkers, the average waiting time in line can be up to an hour or more.

INSTANT INFORMATION

To save time, you can text “NYC FOOD” to 877-877. The system will ask for your address and in response will issue a list of food distribution points.

WEEKEND FOOD DISTRIBUTION

While most distribution centers only offer weekday service, some organizations provide weekend service as well.

Staten Island Public Health Action (CHASI), located at 2134 Richmond Terrace 10302, serves food on Fridays from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm and Saturdays from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm to 2:00 pm. Church of the Resurrection and Life in the Bronx, also offers services on Saturdays and Sundays.

FOODPANTRIES.ORG has over 1,000 outlets across the state. OPEN HERE to find the one closest to your area. You just need to enter your address.

OTHER FOOD DISTRIBUTION PLACES

HUNGER FREE NEW YORK

Each year, Hunger Free NYC releases a comprehensive and up-to-date guide detailing free food access in all five boroughs. Users can learn how and where to access SNAP/Food Stamps, WIC, school and summer meals, senior meals, canteens and food pantries, and farmers’ markets that accept SNAP. Each guide also contains a map showing the location of these places.

Visit for more information.

FOOD BANK FOR NEW YORK

Click here to find a distribution center. Be sure to call before going to the place as places may be limited due to high demand.

WESTCHESTER

Westchester Feeding offers food box locations and a mobile pantry. For more information and to identify places where food is offered, people can visit this website or call (914) 923-1100 weekdays from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

NEW JERSEY

Garden State offers a free fresh produce program. However, it is limited to certain locations in the state. Fresh For All is a free grocery marketplace where people don’t need to show ID or proof of income to get groceries. Click here for the location of these markets.

URGENT FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (TEFAP)

The program allows the state to distribute food donated by the federal government to low-income people, even without legal immigration status, in 21 counties.

The program includes over 70 different foods such as: fresh fruits and vegetables, poultry, fish, ham, rice, pasta, cereals, canned beans, raisins, peanut butter, bottled fruit juices, milk, canned fruits and vegetables, etc. are facing food insecurity.

Through TEFAP, New Jersey receives over 20 million pounds of food from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Eligible for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Food Assistance Program (SNAP), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Women’s, Infants and Children’s Food Program (WIC), Federal Government Insurance, Low – income families and victims of a major disaster.

For more information call (609) 984-2343 or 211. Also visit www.endhungernj.org for more information.

FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) administers the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Distribution Program.

The program provides over 40 million pounds of products to more than 1,000 agencies across the state. Options range from beef and poultry, fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, fish, dairy products, cereals and other proteins.

Click here for a list of Emergency Food Bank affiliates for each county.

Chester:

• Chester Food Pantry, 973-879-2548

DENVILLE:

• St. Claire’s Food on Wheels, 973-625-6010

DOVER:

• Faith Kitchen and Food Pantry at Trinity Lutheran Church, 973-366-2821.

MADISON:

• Food on wheels, 973-593-3095

CITY OF MONTVILLE:

• Kiwanis Grocery Store, 973-216-7649

Morris County (and regional):

• Desk of Hope, 973-267-8912

• Interfaith Food Pantry, 973-538-8049 ext. 12

• Nourishing New Jersey, 973-267-0709

MORRIS PLAINES:

• Interfaith Food Pantry, 973-538-8049 ext. 12

MORRISTOWN:

• Hendrickson Smith Food Pantry, 973-455-9802.

• Food on wheels, 973-538-2160 ext.211

• Desk of Hope, 973-267-8912

• Interfaith Food Pantry, 973-538-8049 ext. 12

RANDOLPH CITY:

• Rockaway Grocery Store, 973-627-1059.

Food distribution from the New Jersey Reentry Corporation & National Action Network.

The organization does not have an address, so applicants should call 551-255-5500 or visit www.njreentry.org for more information.

CONNECTICUT

The Connecticut Association of Human Services (CAHS) provides nutrition programs to low-income families across the state. You can call 211 or email [email protected] for the information you need.

Let’s end hunger! is a government organization to combat hunger and ensure food security. Staff helps families find programs they qualify for based on their income. You can call (860) 560-2100 or write to [email protected].

Individuals in need of food assistance can call (866) 974-7627 seven days a week. If you are unable to contact the operator immediately due to the high number of calls, you can leave a voice message and the staff will contact you later.

The state warns that employees may need time to communicate or process requests as calls are high due to the crisis.

FIND DISTRIBUTION CENTERS BY ZIP CODE

To find a community kitchen or pantry distribution center, click here. The system will ask you to enter your zip code to display a list of locations.

Please call in advance to confirm service times, as many programs have limited their activities in accordance with sanitary restrictions.

In addition, the state’s food banks are also distributing food by truck at various locations across the state.

Click here to see opening hours and truck locations. They can also call 860-856-4321 for more information or send a FOODSHARE message to 85511.

For more information about CT Food Bank click here.

OTHER OPTIONS

Local social services departments are a good option for people who cannot find programs or services to meet their food needs. To find information about these agencies in your city, click here. You will need to enter your zip code to get detailed information.

For more information on government nutrition programs, click here.

For general information click here.