Hoboken Celebrates First Year Of Food Pantry For The Needy

HOBOKEN, NJ — The Hoboken Food Pantry, a part of the Hoboken Community Center (HCC), celebrated its one-year anniversary of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic last Thursday with local dignitaries, residents, public workers, and volunteers.

The operation distributes grab-and-go bags of groceries on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at three Hoboken locations. Clients can also add diapers, toiletries and cleaning products, twice per month during Family 2 Family hours.

According to the most recent U.S. Census, approximately 1 in 9 Hoboken residents live below the poverty level.

“When the Pantry started a little over one year ago, we were operating out of a closet-sized room in the Hoboken Community Center to feed about 35 individuals,” said Ken Nilsen, Hoboken Community Center board president. “Now [we] have provided 11,615 bags of food to 1,280 households.”

“The Hoboken Food Pantry has served as a lifeline for our community members impacted by the pandemic,” said Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla. “I’m incredibly proud of all of the hard-working volunteers who have given hundreds of hours."

He added, "The Hoboken Food Pantry is here to stay."

Started for 96 men in affordable rooms, went from there

The HFP was opened in December 2019 by the Hoboken Community Center (HCC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located at the former YMCA at 1301 Washington St. It was begun to address food insecurity among the 96 low-income tenants in the HCC’s Single Room Occupancy affordable housing program that has served the Hoboken and North Hudson communities since 1927.

By early 2020, in partnership with the Hoboken Housing Authority, the HFP began to provide food to the most vulnerable senior citizens in public housing.

When the first confirmed case of coronavirus in Hoboken was announced on March 13, 2020, with a statewide lockdown announced soon after, the HFP quickly scaled up its operation.

A partnership was formed with the Mayor’s Office, City Council, Office of Emergency Management, the Hoboken Departments of Health and Environmental Services, and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) to coordinate the collection and distribution of thousands of pounds of food each week. (READ MORE: Year At Helm Of Hoboken CERT Coronavirus Hotline: What Volunteers Saw)

Twelve days later, an emergency food resource center opened in the HCC with deliveries to residents in need.

Three locations for grab-and-go groceries

Volunteers give out grab-and-go bags of groceries on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at three Hoboken locations: the HFP at 1301 Washington St., the Multi-Service Center at 124 Grand St. and the Jubilee Center at 601 Jackson St.

“This could not have happened without the indefatigable Toni Tomarazzo," said Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher, "who on day one of the pandemic reached out to a few of us and said, 'We need to make sure people have food.' One year later I am so proud of all who have made the Hoboken Food Pantry the amazing resource it has becomefor our community."

Food insecurity is a serious issue for many residents, especially senior citizens who live alone. The HFP has seen a sharp rise in individuals and families struggling with food insecurity.

The Pantry is a member agency of the Community FoodBank of NJ.

To learn more about the HFP, including how to donate or shop the Amazon Wish List, visit hobokencc.org.

This story is part of Patch's Headlining Hope series, which profiles local nonprofits and charitable organizations in need of volunteers and resources. If you know of a local organization that should be profiled, contact caren.lissner@patch.com

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