Coronavirus Increases Hunger: Find A Food Bank In Ocean County

OCEAN COUNTY, NJ — When you look around Ocean 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 Ocean County, about 52,900, or 8.9 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 Ocean County to 14.2 percent by the end of the year.

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 Ocean County are:

• St. Mary's Pantry, 747 West Bay Ave., Barnegat; 609-698-7477; Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-11:45 a.m., by appt only
• Cedar Creek Community Church Pantry, 370 Nixon Ave., Bayville; 732-269-6204; Thursdays 6 p.m.-8 p.m.
• Faith Community UMC, 526 Route 9, Bayville; 732-269-9850; Tuesday 5 p.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-11 a.m.
• St. Barnabas Pantry, 33 Woodland Road, Bayville, 732-269-2208, ext.107; Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 9:30 a.m.-11:15 a.m., by appointment only
• St. Paul's Pantry, 130 Cable Ave., Beachwood; 732-349-0871; By appt. Wednesday-Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Holiday City Mobile - Berkeley, 631 Jamaica Blvd., Berkeley; 732-643-5889; 4th Friday of month, 10 a.m.
• Destiny Community Food Pantry, 236 Brick Blvd., Brick; 732-451-0779; Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Epiphany Church Food Pantry, 621 Herbertsville Road, Brick; 732-458-0434; Saturday 10 a.m.-noon, Monday 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Osbornville Baptist Pantry, 366 Drum Point Road, Brick; 732-477-0324; Thursdays 10 a.m.-11 a.m., and by appointment
• St. Dominic's Food Pantry, 250 Old Squan Road, (between Route 70 & Route 88), Brick; 732-458-7450; Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 9 a.m.-noon, 3rd Saturday 9 a.m.-noon
• St. Paul's, 714 Herbertsville Road, Brick; 732-458-2080; 1st Wednesday & Thursday, 3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
• St. Thomas Church Food Pantry, 135 Salmon St., Brick; 732-477-5533; Monday & Thursday 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• Project Seeds of Service, 725 Mantoloking Road, Brick; 732-746-3456; Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Brick Housing Authority (Mobile site), 151 Chambers Bridge Road, Brick; 732-918-2600;
• 4th Wednesday 10 a.m.-11 a.m.
• Lacey Food Bank, 102 Station Dr., Forked River; 609-242-2848; Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-noon
• St. Pius Pantry, 300 Lacey Road, Forked River; 609-693-6105; Monday & Wednesday, 9 a.m.-4 p. m., Friday 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Lacey United Methodist Church, 203 W. Lacey Road, Forked River; 609-693-5222; Tuesday and Thursday 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Island Heights UMC Pantry, 111 Ocean Ave., Island Heights; 732-929-0444; 1st and 3rd Tuesdays 9 a.m.-11 a.m.
• American Vets (Mobile site), 1295 Toms River Road, Jackson; 732-918-2600; 4th Monday 11:30 a.m.
• DeBows United Methodist, 509 Monmouth Road, Jackson; 732-928-4475; second & fourth Mondays, 6 p.m.-8 p.m.
• Jackson Women of Today, 10 Don Connor Blvd., Jackson; 732-833-6800; Last Thursday 4:45 p.m.-7:30 p.m. and preceding Wednesday, 4:45 p.m.-6:30 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-11 a.m.
• Lakehurst United Methodist Church (Mobile site), 204 Elm St., Lakehurst; 732-918-2600;
• 1st Tuesday of month 10 a.m.-11 a.m.
• Calvary Lighthouse Food Pantry, 1133 East County Line Road, Lakewood; 732-942-1541;
• Monday-Wednesday 11 a.m.-1 p.m., 2nd Wednesday of month, 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
• Catholic Charities Pantry, 200 Monmouth Ave., Lakewood; 732-363-5322; Monday-Wednesday 9 a.m.-noon
• Christ United Methodist Pantry, 678 Fifth St., Lakewood; 732-363-8885; Tuesday & Thursday 9:30 a.m.-noon
• Immanuel Lutheran, 20 Monterey Circle, Lakewood; 732-363-1599; 2nd & 4th Thursday and last Saturday 10 a.m.-noon
• New Life Pantry, 211 East Fourth St., Lakewood; 732-364-8585; 3rd Thursday 12:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
• PATH Pantry, 725 Airport Road Suite 7G, Lakewood; 732-367-2665, ext. 5152; Thursdays noon-6 p.m. or by appointment
• St. Mary's of the Lake, 43 Madison Ave., Lakewood; 732-363-0139; Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• Sixth Steet Baptist Pantry, 15 Sixth St., Lakewood; 732-581-5983; 2nd and 4th Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Faith Lutheran Church Pantry, 1801 Grand Central Ave., Lavalette; 732-793-8138; Tuesdays, 4 p.m.-5 p.m.
• Greater Tuckerton Food Pantry, 148 North Green St. (Route 539), Tuckerton; 609-294-4777; Monday, Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Calvary Baptist Pantry, 850 Railroad Dr., Little Egg Harbor; 609-296-4606; Tuesdays 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 7 p.m.-8 p.m.
• St. Theresa's Pantry, 641 Radio Road, Little Egg Harbor; 609-296-1345; Monday-Friday 2 p.m.-4 p.m.
• St. Francis Food Pantry, 4700 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach Twp.; 609-494-8861; Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Thursday 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
• Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit, 333 N. Main St., Manahawkin; 609-597-2696; By Appt. Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Ocean Community Church, 1492 Route 72, Manahawkin; 609-597-5151; Wednesdays 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
• New Egypt UMC-Good Samaritan, 38 North Main St., New Egypt; 609-758-2147; Wednesdays 4 p.m.-6 p.m.
• St. Gregory's Pantry, 804 Bay Ave., Point Pleasant Beach; 732-892-8105; Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-noon
• Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 100 Grant Ave., Seaside Heights; 732-793-6881; Wednesdays 10 a.m. -1 p.m.
• Shore Vineyard Church, 1 South Main St., South Toms River; 732-244-3888; 2nd Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Second Baptist Church, 2 First St., South Toms River; 732-244-3309; 1st and 3rd Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
• Abundant Grace Pantry, 108 Indian Head Road, Toms River; 732-914-2058; 3rd Tuesday 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; 1st Saturday 1 p.m.-3 p.m.
• Church Of Grace & Peace Pantry, 1563 Old Freehold Road, Toms River; 732-349-1550; Wednesday 6:30 p.m.-7 p.m., Thursday 1 p.m.-2 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m.-noon
• East Dover Baptist Pantry, 974 Bay Ave., Toms River, 732-270-4888; 1st Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
• First Assembly of God, 800 Bay Ave., Toms River; 732-929-0077; 3rd Friday 2-5 p.m. and 3rd Saturday 11-2 p.m.
• Jesus is Lord Pantry, 2236 Massachusetts Ave., Toms River; 732-901-7733; Thursday 9 a.m. -2 p.m.
• Ocean Christian Pantry, 405 Washington St. (across from Central Ave.), Toms River; 732-240-5998; Last Saturday 8 a.m.-noon
• People's Pantry Relief Center, 1769 Hooper Ave., Toms River; 732-731-1417; Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
• PCTR- The Hope Center, 253 Chestnut St., Toms River; 732-341-4447; Monday, Thursday, Friday 10 a.m.-noon, 1 p.m.-3 p.m.; Wednesday 1 p.m.-3 p.m.
• Salvation Army- Toms River Pantry, 1738 Route 37, Toms River 732-270-8393; Monday through Friday by appt. (Call first)
• St. Joseph's Pantry, 685 Hooper Ave., Toms River; 732-240-1089; Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
• St. Luke's, 1674 Old Freehold Road, Toms River; 732-232-7184; Monday & Wednesday, 9 a.m. -1 p.m.
• Toms River Church of God, 1186 Lakewood Road (Route 166), Toms River; 848-234-1236; Wednesdays 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturdays (by appointment) 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and 3 p.m.-5 p.m.
• Greater Tuckerton Food Pantry, 148 North Green St. (Route 539), Tuckerton; 609-294-4777; Monday and Thursday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-noon
• St. Theresa's Pantry, 641 Radio Road, Tuckerton; 609-296-1345; Monday-Friday 2 p.m.-4 p.m.
• St. Stephen's Food Pantry, 367 Route 9, Waretown; 609-698-8561; Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-11:45 a.m., Friday 10 a.m.-11:45 a.m.
• Cedar Run Assembly of God, 562 S. Main St. (Route 9), West Creek; 609-597-3225; Tuesdays 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
• Whiting Food Pantry, 36 Lacey Road, (Reformed Church), Whiting; 732-350-0232; Monday, Tuesday, Friday 9 a.m.-noon

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.