Coronavirus Increases Hunger: Food Banks In Gloucester County

GLOUCESTER COUNTY, NJ — When you look around Gloucester 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 Gloucester County, about 22,750 people 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 Gloucester County from 7.8 percent to 12.6 percent by the end of the year.

Feeding America, whose 200 member food banks include the Food Bank of South Jersey at 1501 John Tipton Boulevard in Pennsauken, reports both higher demand for services and more need for volunteer and donor support.

Some of food pantries and other services available in Gloucester County are:

Apostles Lutheran Church
4401 Black Horse Pike
Turnersville, NJ, 08012
Phone: 856 629 4228
Contact: Emma Nissley
Every 2nd & 4th Thursday 1:00pm-3:00pm
Pantry

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Camden, Inc.
1200 N. Delsea Dr. Suite 1
Westville, NJ, 08093
Phone: 856 845 9200
Contact: Melissa Hurska
Every 3rd Thursday 9:00am-1:00pm By Appointment Only. If The 3rd Thursday Is A Holiday, They Are Open The Tuesday Before.
Pantry

Cecil Deliverance Tabernacle Church
1110 Coles Mill Road
Williamstown, NJ, 08094
Phone: 856 629 9818
Contact: Carmen Woods
Every 1st Wednesday 11:00am - Noon / Every 3rd Thursday 12:30pm-3:30pm / Every Wednesday Hot Meals 9:00am - 1:00pm
Pantry

Cornerstone Christian Assembly Church
422 Corkery Lane
Williamstown, NJ, 08094
Phone: 856 629 9155
Contact: Alicia Sullivan
Closed Monday Aug. 17th. Will Resume With Normal Distribution Monday Aug. 24, 2020. Every 3rd And 4th Monday 11:00am - 1:00pm
Pantry

Faith Temple Baptist Church
367 Blue Bell Road
Williamstown, NJ, 08094
Phone: 856 262 0759
Contact: Belinda Buckhalter
2nd Thursday 9:00am - 12:00pm Additional June 25th Distribution 9:00am - 12:00pm
Pantry

Greater Woodbury Cooperative Ministries
330 E. Barbar Avenue
Woodbury, NJ, 08096
Phone: 856 848 8975
Contact: Kathy Stackhouse-Cunningham
Every Tuesday's & Thursday's 9:30-11:00
Pantry

Healing Wings Community Center
520 Stanger Avenue
Glassboro, NJ, 08028
Phone: 856 442 0407 Ext.102
Contact: Pastor Wm Alex Guidry
2nd Wednesday 12:00pm - 4:00pm
Pantry

Joy Community Fellowship
759 Lincoln Avenue
Pitman, NJ, 08028
Phone: 856 582 4404
Contact: Teresa Hurst
Every Other Saturday 8:45am - 10:45pm (Delivers Food To All Clients)
Pantry

King's Things
1402 Kings Highway
Swedesboro, NJ, 08085
Phone: 856 467 3066
Contact: Gerry Siglow
Monday's, Wednesday's, Friday's & Saturday's 10:00am - 3:00pm
Pantry

Laurelwood SDA Church
3150 Good Intent Road
Deptford, NJ, 08096
Phone: 856 232 3366
Contact: Julia Krug
Every Saturday 12:30pm – 2:00pm
Pantry

Loving Our Cities, Inc.
1901 Arons Circle
Sewell, NJ, 08080
Phone: 856 817 6223
Contact: Angela Brown
Every 3rd Wednesday 9:00 Am To 1:00 Pm
Pantry

Loving Our Cities, Inc.
274 Delsea Drive
Sewell, NJ, 08080
Phone: 856 817 6223
Contact: Angela Brown
Tuesdays From 9 Am - 12 Pm And Thursdays From 4pm - 6 Pm By Appointment Only. Call Office At 856-817-6223
Pantry

Macedonia Baptist Church
351 High Street
Westville, NJ, 08093
Phone: 856 602 4032
Contact: Kathleen Dombkowski
Every 3rd Sunday 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Pantry

New Life in Christ Ministries
895 N. Delsea Drive
Franklinville, NJ, 08322
Phone: 856 694 2010
Contact: Shirley Swanson
4th Saturday 9:00am - 12:00noon ONLY For The Months Of June And July 2018
Pantry

NHP Foundation (Hollybush Gardens)
60 Hollybush Gardens Apartments
Glassboro, NJ, 08028
Phone: 856 226 3007
Contact: Nadine Worlds
Every Wednesday 11:00am-12:30pm
Pantry

North Baptist Church
1020 N. Evergreen Avenue
Woodbury, NJ, 08096
Phone: 856 845 8433
Contact: Mark Simmons
3rd & 4th Saturday 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Pantry

Praise Temple Church of God in Christ
940 Boundary Road
Wenonah, NJ, 08090
Phone: 856 468 8552
Contact: Pearl Birch
Every 3rd Saturday 8:00am - Noon
Pantry

Rotary Club of Washington Twp. (Mother's Cupboard)
523 Egg Harbor Road
Sewell, NJ, 08080
Phone: 856 589 6446
Contact: Randy Carbone
Every Thursday 9:00am-12:00pm
Pantry

Spoken Word Evangelistic Church
667 S. Evergreen Avenue
Woodbury Heights, NJ, 08097
Phone: 856 845 8845
Contact: Dana Gleason
Every 4th Saturday 9:00am - Noon
Pantry

Springs of Hope Ministry
31 Poplar Street
Williamstown, NJ, 08094
Phone: 856 885 4242
Contact: Bola Obafemi
3rd Saturday 10:00am - 2:00pm
Pantry

St. John's UMC
149 Ganttown Rd.
Turnersville, NJ, 08012
Phone: 856 227 6567
Contact: Stephanie Faust
Sundays 12pm - 3:00pm Must Call At Least 24 Hrs In Advance.
Pantry

St. Matthews Community Development Center
245 Glassboro Road
Williamstown, NJ, 08094
Phone: 856 629 4614
Contact: Tymeka Hurst
4th Thursday 9:00am - 1:00pm
Pantry

St. Paul's United Methodist Church
74 Church Street
Thorofare, NJ, 08086
Phone: 856 845 6638
Contact: Carol Strock
3rd Wednesday In July (7/15) ONLY 2nd Wednesday 7:30am-11:30am
Pantry

St. Thomas Episcopal Church
212 N. Main Street
Glassboro, NJ, 08021
Phone: 856 881 9144
Contact: Vivian Hanson
Every 2nd Saturday 8:00am - 1:00pm
Pantry

Straight-Line Church
207 3rd Avenue
Westville , NJ, 08096
Phone: 856 456 4588
Contact: Omega Reeves
2nd Saturday 9:00am - 1:00pm
Pantry

The Pitman Pantry
30 North Broadway
Pitman, NJ, 08071
Phone: 856 589 2266
Contact: Carol Schoepske
Tuesday's 6:00pm-7:00pm, Wednesday's 4:00pm-5:00pm & Thursday's 12:00noon-1:00pm
Pantry

The Victory Group
1055 Delsea Drive
Westville, NJ, 08093
Phone: (856)853-2688
Contact: Twanda Davis
1st And 3rd Saturday 10am-12pm And 3rd Thursday Emergency By Referral Only 11 To 1.
Pantry

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.