Coronavirus Increases Hunger: Find A Food Bank Near Essex County

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ —When you look around Essex 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 Essex County, about 100,560 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 Essex County to 17.4 percent by the end of the year, up from 12.7 percent in 2018.

Feeding America, whose 200 member food banks include several in New Jersey, reports both higher demand for services and more need for volunteer and donor support. See locations here.

Some resources in Essex County include:

BELLEVILLE

• LITTLE ZION U.A.M.E. CHURCH

BLOOMFIELD

• PARK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

CEDAR GROVE

• BUDDHIST TZU CHI FOUNDATION

EAST ORANGE

• EAST ORANGE COMM. DEV. CORP.
• ISAIAH HOUSE
• BETHLEHEM FRENCH SDA CHURCH
• PENTECOST FOOD PANTRY
• SALEM SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST
• BETHLEHEM COMMUNITY CHURCH
• JOI'S ANGELS
• IMANI BAPTIST CHURCH
• CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH
• SALVATION ARMY-EAST ORANGE
• PEACEFUL ZION BAPTIST CHURCH
• NEW EPHESUS BAPTIST CHURCH

IRVINGTON

• URBAN RENEWAL CORP. - (HALFWAY HOUSE)
• CHURCH WOMEN UNITED PANTRY

MONTCLAIR

• TONI'S KITCHEN @ ST. LUKES CHURCH
• HUMAN NEEDS FOOD PANTRY
• SALVATION ARMY - MONTCLAIR
• FIRST 7TH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH

NEWARK

• BELUAH GROVE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORP.
• LOVE OF JESUS FAMILY CHURCH OF BELLEVILLE
• MEN AND WOMEN OF VALOR
• CHURCH OF THE ETERNAL GOD
• NEWARK SPANISH 7TH DAY ADVENTIST
• BROADWAY HOUSE
• MT. ZION BAPTIST CHURCH
• BETHEL ASSEMBLY OF GOD
• HOUSE OF LOVE SOUP KITCHEN
• FIRST HOPEWELL BAPTIST CHURCH
• HAITIAN BAPTIST CHURCH OF THE CROSSROADS
• IGLESIA SHALOM BAPTIST CHURCH
• NEW UNITED NEIGHBORS DEV. CHILDCARE CENTER
• ROSEVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
• BETHANY BAPTIST CHURCH PANTRYEBEN-EZER FOOD
• PANTRY
• ST. JOHN BAPTIST CHURCH
• JEHOVAH JIREH PRAISE & WORSHIP
• TRINITY U.A.M.E.
• UNITED COMMUNITY CORPORATION
• NEW BORN HOLY CHURCH
• FIRST LOVE MINISTRIES
• SALVATION ARMY - NEWARK
• F.O.C.U.S.
• FRANCISCAN CHARITIES
• THE APOSTLE'S HOUSE
• HOGAR CREA -NEWARK
• REVIVAL TEMPLE
• IGREJA EVANGELICA VIDA NOVA

NUTLEY

• VINCENT UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
• NUTLEY FAMILY SERVICES

ORANGE

• EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH
• HELPING HANDS AND EARS
• INTERFAITH FOOD PANTRY OF THE ORANGES
• CHURCH OF EPIPHANY OUTREACH
• MT. OLIVE CHURCH OF GODMEND
• IGLESIA CRISTIANA EVANGELIO CO
• MANNA FROM HEAVEN-ST. MATTHEWS
• LOVE OF JESUS MINISTRIES
• S.D.A. CHURCH OF THE ORANGES

SOUTH ORANGE

• OHEB SHALOM CONG

WEST ORANGE

• HOLY TRINITY-WEST ORANGE FOOD 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.

This article contains reporting from the Patch national desk

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

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